List of Newspaper Clips Collected from September 18/2017 to October

List of Newspaper Clips Collected from Mobility Pricing by Mayor Walton.pdf Natural Playground spurs outdoor learning-b.pdf September 18/2017 to October 15/2017 Natural Playground spurs outdoor learning.pdf New measures on the way to cut down traffic congestion in Toronto.pdf North Shore homeless numbers much higher than thought.pdf 1 in 5 West Vancouver households are low income.pdf North Vancouver MLA Ma warns of rental hikes that flout tenants.pdf Action on affordable housing.pdf Notice-43-townhomes-at-2049-2059-Heritage-Park-Lane.pdf Argyle rebuild set to wrap up in 2020.pdf Notice-Permissive-Tax-Exemptions-2018-2019.pdf B.C. Supreme Court rejects condo-building sale attempt.pdf Notice-Permissive-Tax-Exemptions.pdf Bunking-down-on-Dollarton.pdf Notice-PIM-1552-1568-Oxford-Str.pdf Chlorine leak contained_ North Vancouver firefighters.pdf Notice-PIM-on-1200-1259 Emery Place.pdf City raises building standards to combat greenhouse gas emissions.pdf Notice-PIM-on-4670-Capilano-Rd.pdf Comments on taxing empty homes and Affordability of new homes on small Notice-PIM-on-904-944 Lytton St.pdf lots.pdf Notice-Public-Hearing-Genaire and Curling.pdf Councillor calls for City of North Van to double new low-cost rentals.pdf Notice-road-closure-and-disposition-Glenaire-Dr.pdf Crash dummies.pdf NSNEWS-Online-Comments-on-homelessness-and-affordabiliy.pdf Distracted driving.pdf One-stop youth services.pdf District of North Van to push for quicker crash clearing.pdf Our little world no longer a safe place.pdf District of North Vancouver council trashes garbage reform-b.pdf Public input a valuable part of local governance.pdf District of North Vancouver council trashes garbage reform.pdf RCMP warn of scam targeting desperate renters.pdf District of North Vancouver looks to make Upper Cap subdivisions.pdf Road pricing best way to reduce vehicle emissions.pdf District to look for family shelter location.pdf See what develops.pdf Dorm-days.pdf Seven elementary expansions on North Vancouver school district wish list.pdf Electoral Reform.pdf Smaller earthquakes pose greater risk than next big one.pdf emery-village-concept.pdf The Earthquake That Will Devastate the Pacific Northwest _ The New Fire debate rekindles District of North Van garbage dustup.pdf Yorker.pdf Greater Vancouver home prices to drop 21 per cent by 2019.pdf Gregor Robertson proposes giving locals 1st shot at new condos.pdf Trail bridge over Seymour River delayed due to costs.pdf Grouse Mountain sign thieves.pdf TransLink announces new street and sidewalk funding in North Vancouver.pdf Keep North Van Beautiful.pdf True-Blue-Cabin.pdf Lions Gate model uncovered in thrift store.pdf Uneclared.pdf Living-on-shaky-ground.pdf Vancouver's middle-aged exodus a concern.pdf Lynn Headwaters access road to be accessible in October.pdf We want information.pdf Meet the people who choose to live inside their vehicles.pdf West Vancouver bans aggressive dog.pdf Metro Vancouver urges residents to put grease in green bins.pdf Without a home.pdf 1 in 5 West Vancouver households 'low income' Income stats don't capture household wealth

Jane Seyd / North Shore News

October 10, 2017 04:01 PM

A chart created by Andy Yan shows the relative percentage of low-income households by age group, comparing West Vancouver to neighbouring communities. The analysis uses after-tax low-income thresholds from Statistics Canada. graphic supplied Andy Yan The affluent community of West Vancouver, where average home prices hover at $3 million, has one of the highest rates of people with “low income” in Metro Vancouver. At least on paper. That surprising piece of information comes from an analysis of recently released Statistics Canada income figures by Andy Yan, director of Simon Fraser University’s City Program. related

 EDITORIAL: Undeclared

According to Yan’s analysis, there is a higher percentage of “low income” households in West Vancouver – more than 18 per cent – than in Metro Vancouver as a whole, where about 16.5 per cent of households are low income. In certain areas of West Vancouver – like Chartwell and Ambleside – that percentage of “low income” families climbs even higher, to 25 and 33 per cent of all households. (Vancouver number cruncher Jens von Bergmann has also plotted West Vancouver neighbourhoods with "low income" on his interactive Census Mapper map.)

Census Mapper showing pockets of low income neighbourhoods in West Vancouver.

graphic supplied Jens von Bergmann The number of people living in low income households has also risen dramatically in the last decade in West Vancouver, shooting up by 37 per cent, an increase over double that seen in Metro Vancouver as a whole and about 10 times the rate of change in the neighbouring District of North Vancouver, according to Yan’s analysis.

graphic supplied Andy Yan But are up to a third of households living in mansions worth millions really scraping by on meagre poverty-line incomes?

Yan and other analysts say likely not.

More likely, they say, the figures reflect the limited way that income statistics capture “wealth,” particularly in the case of well-to-do immigrant families whose wealth is often generated outside the country.

“It led to a really interesting discussion,” said Yan, of the numbers he’s come up with.

While rates of poverty are definitely up in suburban areas these days, seeing such high rates of low income in West Vancouver just doesn’t appear accurate in the face of “all that real estate wealth and watching that Lamborghini buzz by you on the Lions Gate Bridge,” he said. “It does not compute.”

graphic supplied Andy Yan

Daniel Hiebert, a University of British Columbia geography professor who has studied international migration and its impact on the housing market, said such numbers only make sense in the context that “wealth and income are separate things and we record and tax income, but leave wealth alone in Canada.”

West Vancouver has some similar patterns to Richmond in this regard, says Hiebert, where immigrants rely on wealth from overseas to buy into the local real estate market.

“Does this mean people are poor?” he asks. “No. It means we’re not tracking an essential component of economic well-being: wealth.” There is also the possibility of undeclared income, whether that is acquired in Canada or abroad, he adds.

For instance, gifts of money among family members don’t have to be declared, he said.

Richard Kurland, an immigration lawyer and policy analyst, said areas like West Vancouver have been on his radar for the combination of low taxes paid despite stratospheric real estate sales. The issue lies in households whose members maintain they are residents of Canada for the purposes of being exempted from foreign buyers’ or capital gains tax in the real estate market yet don’t disclose or pay taxes on the global income which allows them to buy into that market, said Kurland.

“. . . some of Canada’s wealthiest families have all the benefits of being Canadian, but may legally avoid paying Canadian income tax, even though they are living in Canada part time, because they are entitled to be ‘non- residents of Canada’ for income tax purposes,” he said.

Kurland said he’d like to see changes made to the tax system that would see high property taxes levied on millionaire mansions – which could then be lowered for those declaring certain levels of taxable household income.

“It’s a social justice issue,” he said. “Millionaire families enjoy a millionaire lifestyle without contributing a millionaire share of taxes.”

LETTER: Action on affordable housing

North Shore News

October 5, 2017 03:59 PM

file photo Mike Wakefield, North Shore News

Dear Editor:

Re: Homeless Undercounted, Study Finds, Sept. 29 front-page story.

Thank-you for your article highlighting a very important social issue, homelessness across the North Shore.

As stated in the North Shore Homeless Task Force’s study, 736 North Shore children, youth, adults and families experienced homelessness in 2016.

The news article states that “municipalities, which could put up land for affordable housing, or incent developers to build more through density bonusing.”

All three municipalities have stepped up to the homelessness challenge.The City of North Vancouver has led the charge of affordable housing for decades and all three municipalities are actively addressing the issue. As a non-profit society that supports homeless youth, seniors and families to move from homelessness to housing, our success is a direct result of our municipalities’ efforts.

The three municipalities of the North Shore have contributed to program funding, provision of safe houses and transitional housing for seniors and youth, municipally owned units allocated to homeless and at-risk individuals, permissive tax exemptions, introductions to developers that have led to rentals for vulnerable populations and the most costly, land to develop affordable housing.

We are living in unprecedented times and on the North Shore, we are lucky to have three municipalities prepared to do their part to meet the needs of our most vulnerable citizens.

Alan Kwinter board chair, Hollyburn Family Services Society Argyle rebuild set to wrap up in 2020 http://www.nsnews.com/lifestyle/argyle-rebuild-set-to-wrap-up-in-2020-1.23000553

Jeremy Shepherd / North Shore News

September 25, 2017 08:37 AM

Originally set for fall, construction on the new Argyle Secondary is set to begin in the spring of 2018. image supplied

Good news for the graduating class of 2021: construction on the new Argyle Secondary is expected to begin next year.

The $49.2-million project, which also includes new fields, will hopefully wrap up by the fall of 2020, according to North Vancouver school district communications manager Nevasha Naidoo.

The province is set to allocate $37.65 million to replace the seismically risky secondary school. The school district is slated to chip in $11.56 million. The district’s contribution came from the Monteray Elementary site – which was sold for housing, and the Keith Lynn alternative school, which was sold to the District of North Vancouver to become a highway off-ramp.

The budget for the rebuild is about $3 million less than the school district initially hoped for, meaning a few non-essential items had to be dropped or scaled down in the design.

The design includes a two-storey lobby, movable walls between some classrooms and three gyms that can be amalgamated into one championship gym if the situation warrants.

The new Argyle school will be built on the site of the current playing fields. Another field will be created on the site of the current school after it’s demolished.

B.C. Supreme Court rejects condo-building sale attempt https://www.biv.com/article/2017/10/supreme-court-rejects-condo-building-sale-attempt/

Dissenting owners convince judge that strata did not follow Bill 40 process

By Glen Korstrom | Oct. 2, 2017, 8:08 a.m.

Christine Raverty and husband Steve Handy are happy that they were able to prevent the sale of a condominium complex, where they own a unit, despite being in the minority opposed to the deal | Rob Kruyt

A group of condominium owners won a huge court victory over their neighbours September 21 when BC Supreme Court Justice Warren Milman dismissed an attempt by a larger group of owners to wind up their strata corporation and sell assets to a developer.

Milman ruled that the strata corporation at Bel-Ayre Villa, at the corner of West 10th Avenue and Burrard Street, did not follow the process set out in the B.C. government’s Bill 40, which passed last year. The legislation loosened regulations for selling stratified buildings to allow for sales as long as 80% of owners support the transaction and a BC Supreme Court judge approves the sale.

Previously, unanimous consent from owners was required.

The Bel-Ayre case is the first in which a strata corporation that obtained the necessary 80% support from owners failed to obtain court approval.

Strata corporation windups that have received court approval include Twelve Oaks at 2777 Oak Street and Brandywine at 585 Austin Avenue in Coquitlam.

Neither of those cases involved dissenting owners appearing in court to argue against the sale. Instead, owners in those developments who opposed the deal told Business in Vancouver that they were resigned to accepting the sale and they did not see the value of hiring a lawyer to argue their case.

Owners at Bel-Ayre voted 30-6, or 83.33%, in January to wind up the strata and sell the site to BCIMC Realty for $19 million. Dissenting owners, such as Christine Raverty, however, were determined to fight the sale and were elated by Milman’s judgment.

“We could not have hoped for a better outcome than to know our daughter will be able to remain in a home she loves,” said Raverty, whose daughter, Krystal Wells, lives in her Bel-Ayre Villa suite.

Milman’s decision to reject the sale was based on the strata corporation’s having failed to attach an interest schedule to documents that owners received in advance of the January vote. Instead, an interest schedule was provided after owners voted.

B.C.’s legislation is clear that this schedule must accompany other documents before windup votes in all cases where strata corporations intend to use a liquidator to sell assets.

Not only does the interest schedule set out how proceeds are to be divided among the owners, it also sets out all mortgage charges against units in the building.

“The value estimates approved as part of the interest schedule are an essential term of the liquidator’s mandate, rather than just another source of information that might affect the vote,” Milman wrote.

“Without them, the winding-up resolution is not validly approved. In other words, this is not a mere ‘procedural irregularity’ but an omission of substance.”

Clark Wilson LLP partner Veronica Franco, who represented the strata corporation, told BIV that she could not say why the strata corporation did not attach the interest schedule before the vote.

She called the omission a “technicality,” but said that “it provides a clear signal to future strata corporations that when it comes to doing this, and doing their interest schedules in particular, that they have to comply and there is no room for grey – even when nobody is hurt.”

Bel-Ayre strata council president Glenda Monts told BIV that she was disappointed with the ruling and that the strata council is reviewing its options, such as appealing the decision or restarting the process.

Raverty, meanwhile, said she is convinced that the strata council does not have the funds to restart. She said some of the owners who voted in favour of selling the complex have turned against the deal and that a future vote to sell the site would likely not garner the 80% threshold.

Raverty’s lawyer, Hammerberg Lawyers LLP partner Stephen Hamilton, told BIV that it is likely that had Milman not rejected the sale because of the problem with the interest schedule, the judge would have quashed it anyway because of other strata corporation missteps.

(Image: Hammerberg Lawyers LLP partner Stephen Hamilton believes that Justice Milman's judgement creates a precedent that could impact other proposed strata wind-ups that are winding through the courts | submitted)

Hamilton said that in cases where a liquidator is to be involved, the strata corporation should not market the building or find a buyer. That job, he said, should be left to the liquidator, which in the case of Bel-Ayre Villa had not yet been appointed.

The route that Bel-Ayre Villa’s strata corporation should have taken was to get court approval for the 83.33% vote in favour of selling the complex and simultaneously to get the court to approve the appointment of a liquidator, who would then market the property.

“The strata corporation has no business at all entering into contracts for the sale of the building and putting them before the ownership for approval because the legislation appears to read that the only thing the strata corporation does is vote to wind up the strata, appoint a liquidator, have that confirmed by the court and then the liquidator takes over the process and the liquidator goes out to find prospective buyers,” he said.

Hamilton believes that Milman’s judgment is a warning to strata corporations to make sure that everything they do follows the letter of the law.

A separate case, involving a 33-unit project at 1188 Cardero Street, is slated to go to court on December 4 and 5.

Hamilton, who represents dissenting owners in that matter, said the case could rest on the strata corporation’s failure to name the liquidator in documents that owners were given before they voted to sell their building.

“That’s a key ingredient of the resolution,” he said.

“So it would seem to me, based on the signal that we now have from B.C. Supreme Court, that if you don’t provide all of the things that are required for the resolution and you have the owners vote on it, the court will not be prepared to approve the winding-up resolution. • [email protected]

@GlenKorstrom CRIER COMMENT: Bunking down on Dollarton

North Shore News

October 3, 2017 04:45 PM

Gabriela Pinheiro, a Capilano University student from Brazil raves about the new residence buildings and dining hall. The school now has more than 100 students renting rooms at the site of a former boarding school on Dollarton Highway. photo Mike Wakefield, North Shore News New university dorms on Dollarton Highway mark the first time post-secondary students in the Seymour area are sharing sleeping quarters. Attending Capilano College, which opened in 1968, was a rite of passage for many North Shore students after high school. When Cap College moved to university status in 2008, it drew attention from prospective students around the world and those still close to home. The start of the 2017 school year saw the first cohort of Capilano University students bunk down in a repurposed boarding school on Dollarton Highway. The rents are affordable. The food is good. The students who live in them are making important connections and friendships. And they’re now just a 15-minute bus ride from campus. Despite the images that “student housing” may conjure up – beer pong, Bob Marley posters and toga parties, we found the place looked more like a study hall than a National Lampoon movie. The scarcity of available apartments on the North Shore makes it extremely difficult for young people to find a place of their own. And the price makes it almost impossible. Because of its location, commuting to Cap either means more cars on the highway or hours a day spent on a series of buses. Cap is no longer the community college it once was. It’s a university drawing students from around the province and around the world. We have nothing but praise for CapU’s administrators and for the landowner, Darwin Properties, for coming up with this elegant solution in the midst of a housing crisis. This is an excellent start but it is only a temporary measure as the land will eventually by redeveloped and it’s not like there is another unused boarding school sitting around waiting to be repurposed. There are a couple projects coming down the pipes in the District of North Vancouver that may include student housing. When these projects come before council, we urge our council members and our residents to keep an open mind and to fondly remember their own dorm days.

UPDATED: Chlorine leak contained: North Vancouver firefighters

Brent Richter / North Shore News

October 2, 2017 02:56 PM

Updated: October 3, 2017 12:45 PM

North Vancouver RCMP detour traffic on Dollarton Highway during a small chlorine release Monday. photo Paul McGrath, North Shore News

District of North Vancouver firefighters say a small chlorine leak at a waterfront industrial plant was quickly contained Monday afternoon.

Alarms could be heard from the waterfront industrial area off Dollarton Highway around 1 p.m. At the time, staff at the Chemtrade chlor-alkali plant (formerly Canexus) were preparing one of their acid plants for maintenance, said plant manager Rick Denton.

“As they were purging the line, some chlorine went out the stack of an acid plant,” he said.

The amount released was “well below” dangerous levels, but as a precaution, Chemtrade warned staff at the neighbouring Erco Worldwide chemical plant on Forester Street that they may smell chlorine in the air. Chlorine can be smelled at 0.02 parts per million, Denton added.

“The neighbouring facility set their alarm off, thinking that they should shelter in place and that there was a significant release. There was miscommunication from our foreman to their plant. There was no risk but they misconstrued it,” Denton said. The situation was largely resolved by the time district firefighters arrived a short time later, according to assistant fire chief Chad Laforet.

“It’s not terribly uncommon to have small releases from the establishment down here. That’s what happened here. There was a release that was mitigated quickly by the site staff and their safety personnel and managers on scene,” he said.

No one was injured in the release, Laforet added.

The plant produces chlor-alkali, a compound used to create caustic soda, hydrochloric acid, and bleach.

North Vancouver RCMP set up a temporary roadblock on Dollarton Highway to stop access to the area.

“There is no more threat to public safety but out of an abundance of caution, they held a perimeter, which we were a part of,” said Cpl. Richard De Jong, North Vancouver RCMP spokesman.

Laforet said he will follow up with Chemtrade to ensure that all hazardous materials operational guidelines were followed.

“I’m confident that it is,” he said. “But it’s a situation where we want to be 100 per cent on the same page with industry.”

Denton said it might have been a concern for those who heard the alarm but it was a case of better-safe-than-sorry.

“If anything, it was a cry-wolf thing, but that’s OK,” he said.

City raises building standards to combat greenhouse gas emissions Slightly costlier standards expected to hike efficiency

Jeremy Shepherd / North Shore News

October 12, 2017 04:07 PM

A laneway house on West 28th Street is built in accordance with BC Energy Step Code. The more environmentally friendly standards will apply to all new homes in the city. photo Mike Wakefield, North Shore News

New homes in the City of North Vancouver are slated to be a little more expensive and a lot more efficient.

City council unanimously endorsed new construction guidelines in accordance with the B.C. Energy Step Code at an Oct. 2 meeting. The change is slated to come into effect as of Dec. 15.

 EDITORIAL: Political climate

“That’s the way the world has to go,” pronounced Coun. Rod Clark. “Otherwise, we’re just going to keep pumping out (greenhouse gas emissions), and the climate’s going to heat up and eventually we’ll all be toast.”

Mayor Darrell Mussatto agreed. “It’s the right thing to do. It’s the right time to do it.” The more stringent standards are designed to make new homes 10 per cent more energy efficient by July 1, 2018. For homes that exceed 1,200 square feet, construction costs are expected to rise by as much as 0.9 per cent, according to a city staff report. For smaller homes the hop in capital costs is anticipated to be 0.4 per cent.

The standards don’t yet apply to civic buildings, hospitals, schools or rec centres, much to the chagrin of Coun. Linda Buchanan. “I think those need to come online sooner than later,” she said, emphasizing the high costs of retrofitting a building “after the fact.”

The new building code focuses on “quality assurance rather than new technologies,” according to a city staff report.

The code focuses on design issues related to heat loss, such as the placement of windows and doors, and the size of balconies. The code also notes that the ideal heating system depends on the design of the building. For example, electric baseboard heating can be useful in a smaller space where little heat is required, according to a report prepared by BC Housing and the Energy Step Code Council.

While cooling systems account for a relatively small amount of energy use, they may become more critical as peak temperatures increase due to climate change, the report noted.

The city’s decision was endorsed by Naikoon Contracting president Joe Geluch. The residential construction industry has faced “quite a bit of confusion” in recent years, he told council, explaining building standards vary in different municipalities.

“Step Code can and will create a much-needed unification between all municipalities.”

Municipal consultant and council watcher Alex Boston supported the city’s leadership in embracing what he called: “the most innovative building energy framework in North America.”

“There is a little bit of a hit for builders, but it’s incremental and that’ll slow over time,” he said.

The building code will save money for the occupants of more efficient homes and highrises in the city, he said.

The code will also change how the city does business, as energy efficiency standards will no longer be part of negotiations with developers around density. The change should lead to “moderate efficiency gains” in the city’s ability to process building applications.

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 2017 north shore news nsnews.com NEWS | A9

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR must include your name, full address and telephone number. Send your letters via e-mail to: editor@ nsnews.com. The North Shore News reserves the right to edit MAILBOX any and/or all letters based on length, clarity, legality and content. The News also reserves the right to publish any and/or all letters electronically. BUYMORE, Public input a valuable SAVE MORE part of local governance Save Dear Editor: In all cases, rules of by 11 p.m., no worse than cor- Re: See What Develops, behaviour are applied. In all porate and non-profit boards I $ Sept. 10 Viewpoint. cases, written submissions are have sat on. 100 I was astounded by a state- welcome. In the 23 years I have ment in this editorial: “But the Public input is a valuable attended DNV council wonder of our democracy is part of the governing process. meetings, I have never felt on one featuredframe that council is forced to listen Hopefully your use of the word inundated in “bureaucratese.” valued at $199ormore to just about anybody who “wonder” was a compliment to Yes, it helps to learn some wants to talk.” council’s process, not a criti- of the limited jargon like District of North Vancouver cism as I took it. FSR, Local Government Act, council, insofar as council Then having apparently etc., but it sure beats try- meetings, has fairly strict rules criticized council for being ing to understand your auto Save as to how long (three minutes) “forced” to listen to just about mechanic. an individual can speak, and anybody, you encourage resi- John Hunter how long in total (30 minutes) dents to “show up in droves” North Vancouver $ public input is accepted in a in council chambers. 125 given council meeting. Colour me confused! Editor’s note: The editorial Limits in workshops are I disagree with your com- viewpoint was indeed meant much stricter. Public hearings ment that “Council meetings to encourage, not discourage, on each additional pair are also restricted as to time can resemble an endless civic engagement. We urge all of prescription eyewear per speaker, but most anyone slog whose participants residents to get informed by can speak. speak in incomprehensible attending meetings of council One can also ask to bureaucratese.” and public hearings, and con- meet any councillor or staff Yes, some meetings drag tacting your elected officials to member. on, but are usually terminated share your views. West Vancouver ONLINECOMMENT 1685 Marine Drive |604.925.2110 Dr.Judith Balberan, Optometrist; Duane Salmon, NSN STORY: Knock, Knock: Time to Tax Those Empty Homes? Paul Schinkel, Opticians; Philip Mattes, Manager Sept. 17 Other Voices guest column.

*With the purchase of afeatured frame valued at $199 or moreand fully coated prescription lenses. Brock Bishop (at nsnews.com): Taxing an empty house doesn’t sit well with me. It’s not **The firstpurchase mustbeaframe with apair of fully coated prescription lenses (valued at $250 or more) or an annual supply of contact lenses. Thesecond frame mustbepurchased with apair of fully coated prescription lenses valued at $250 or more. Purchase mustbemade on the same day, forthe same customer,with the same prescription. Not applicable on safety glasses, sport safety glasses or COOL Kids packages. “fair,” so (Prime Minister) Justin Trudeau should be against it? (cough, cough ... ya, right) But Valid September 11 to November 19,2017. Not combinable with anyother offer,promotion or IRIS advantages. Ask formoredetails. seriously, unless the empty house is becoming a problem (derelict), an empty house pays ®TM Trademarks of AIR MILES International Trading B.V. Used under license by LoyaltyOne,Co. and IRIS TheVisual Group. full property taxes but doesn’t use the services (garbage, schools, street parking, water) that those taxes pay for. So in a way, they are already being taxed more than an occupied house. Also, empty houses are quiet! And they don’t have cars parked on the street. I guess I’m sick of every problem being solved by a new tax. It’s never-ending.

NSN STORY: DNV Looks to Make Upper Cap Subdivisions, Sept. 22 front-page story. DRAFTPLANFOR TRAILS ON PUBLIC LAND oxthorough (at nsnews.com): A couple of things: A survey conducted by whom and representative of what percentage of the affected residents? When residents try to have sidewalks put in alongside the streets in this areas they are told they’ll need 100 per cent buy-in from every single house on the street. Has the same rigour been applied to council’s investigations on this matter? The majority of those in favour are those on 60-foot lots who stand to benefit from subdividing their lots. Has any consideration gone into what that is going to look like for quality of life for existing residents, most on 30-foot lots, in a neighbourhood already inundated with construction traffic and noise six days a week from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. each day? ... Secondly, the notion that infill lots will make it more affordable for young families to move in to the neighbourhood is nonsense. Houses on 30-foot lots are presently selling near $2.2 million. ... You want affordable housing? Look at laneway housing and legal secondary suites on existing lots or demand that developers include substantially more below-market rentals in their new multi-unit builds. Finally, Montroyal Elementary is in no danger of closing. A drop in enrolment might mean the curtailing of some programs, but Available onlineonSeptember 28, 2017 there are still lots of kids enrolled at that school and the recent class size/composition deal reached vis à vis the Supreme Court decision between the province and the BCTF is leaving TheDistrict of West Vancouver has beenworking with stakeholdersand the school board desperate for space, not actively seeking to free some more up. It’s lovely citizens to develop aplan fortrails on public land in West Vancouver to have a small community school tucked into the woods and its proximity to local houses does help real estate values, but calling it the “lifeblood” of the community is a stretch. since2015. Thedraft Plan forTrails on PublicLandwill be available to reviewatwestvancouver.ca/trailsplan on September 28, 2017. Follow us and have your say: Facebook: North Shore News, Twitter: @NorthShoreNews When ﬁnalized, the Plan forTrails on PublicLandwill help articulate whytrails and trail opportunities areimportant to residents of West Should Uber drivers face the Vancouver; and provide best practicesfor trail development, use, same training as taxi drivers? management, and maintenance. Printed copiesofthe draftplan will also be available forinspectionatthe Q Yes, we need regulations No, overregulation will ruin following public buildings: to ensure the roads are the ride-share industry. safe. MunicipalHall, 75017th Street HAVE YOUR SAY by taking part in our web poll at West Vancouver Memorial Library, 1950 Marine Drive West Vancouver CommunityCentre, 2121 Marine Drive nsnews.com. Check back next Wednesday for the results. Seniors’ Activity Centre, 695 21st Street LAST WEEK 92% 8% Gleneagles CommunityCentre, 695 21st Street WE ASKED YOU: Yes, the same risks of un- No, unions and corpora- Should we ban corporate due influence apply at all tions deserve the same TELL US WHAT YOUTHINK and union cash from all elec- levels of government. freedoms as everyone else. Please provide comments by Oct. 20,2017 westvancouver.ca/trailsplan |604-925-7275 |[email protected] tions? (based on 139 votes) Councillor calls for City of North Van to double new low-cost rentals

Jeremy Shepherd / North Shore News

October 4, 2017 09:43 AM

At least 20 per cent of all new developments should consist of low-cost rentals, according to Coun. Rod Clark. file photo Paul McGrath, North Shore News

The City of North Vancouver should do more for renters – at least 10 per cent more, according to Coun. Rod Clark.

Clark put forward a motion Monday to amend the city policy on new market rental projects. North Vancouver’s current strategy mandates new projects reserve 10 per cent of the units at 10 per cent below average rents for at least 10 years.Clark’s motion called on the city to reserve 20 per cent of new units in any multi-family development, including condos, at 10 per cent below market rates in perpetuity.

In making his case, Clark noted half of city households are renters. He also referenced the city’s 0.3 per cent vacancy rate.

“This council needs to build what our city needs,” Clark said. “If you were one of the people being renovicted and couldn’t find a place, it would be absolutely No. 1 on your list.”

There could be ramifications to altering the city’s policy, cautioned Mayor Darrell Mussatto.

“Tweaking this will have consequences,” he said. “It will have impacts on our staff and impacts, potentially, on the amount of units that are available.”

Coun. Linda Buchanan concurred.

While she said she could “appreciate the spirit” of Clark’s motion, Buchanan said she had a “large concern” the policy may make new developments untenable.

“Obviously, we’re trying to achieve as much housing as we can but there’s also other community amenities that we’re trying to achieve.”

Buchanan also asked if there had been any major changes since council approved its most recent housing action plan. “I think the land economics have changed over the last couple of years,” responded city planner Michael Epp.

The key to the policy is ensuring housing projects remain viable, Epp explained.

“If there’s not enough profit left in the project, the project itself won’t come to fruition,” Epp said.

That was a sticking point for Mussatto, who noted the 10 per cent reduction in rent is based on Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corp. averages. In 2016 the 10 per cent discount would have left renters paying $900 for a bachelor and $1,288 for a two-bedroom.

Mussatto also suggested municipalities are “poorly equipped” to deal with a housing crisis exacerbated by the absence of provincial and federal intervention.

However, there is a change afoot in terms of federal involvement action, Clark argued, suggesting the CMHC has some newfound resources.

“The program money is there, it’s a matter of making the development community aware of it.”

Clark’s motion won support from most of his fellow councillors, with Coun. Holly Back underscoring the importance of affordable housing to the business community.

“Our businesses can’t keep staff. That’s quite sad. We need to do something to help our business community,” she said.

Back also argued that reserving 10 per cent of the units in a new development “is really not very much.”

“We sit here at this table and say we need to do something,” she said. “But to this point I don’t think we’ve done very much.”

As immigrants come to Canada and Canadians come to North Vancouver the demand for housing is going up, not down, said Coun. Don Bell.

“Fewer and fewer people are going to be able to afford to buy,” he said.

Clark’s motion was also championed by Don Peters, chairman of the Community Housing Action Committee.

Clark’s motion signals the city may be “settling for too little,” Peters suggested in endorsing the resolution.

Coun. Craig Keating was absent Monday but much was made of his comments during a debate on the recently approved Royal George development, consisting of a 23-storey, 166-unit highrise neighbouring a 14-storey, 89- unit rental building.

At the Sept. 18 regular meeting of council, Keating noted the project’s profitability and suggested more than 18 units could have been reserved at below-market rates.

Clark’s motion passed 5-1 with Coun. Pam Bookham opposed. Bookham did not speak to the motion.

Staff is expected to report back to council on the viability of Clark’s proposal in approximately three months.

EDITORIAL: Crash dummies http://www.nsnews.com/opinion/editorial/editorial-crash-dummies-1.2...

1 of 1 10/7/2017 3:19 PM FRIDAY, OCTOBER 6, 2017 north shore news nsnews.com NEWS | A11 Cops ‘survey’ intersection for distracted drivers Cap and Marine enforcement get on to the two North Shore bridges at afternoon rush blitz highlights drivers still hour is prime time for folks to be tempted into sneaking in a aren’t getting the message call, say police. “Everyone’s trying to get JANE SEYD block from the motor vehicle off the North Shore,” every- [email protected] office. Apparently, the man one’s running late and too was so excited he passed many people are still getting Survey says…there are his road test that he phoned on their phones to say, ‘I’m still too many drivers who his wife, said Cpl. Richard late, I can’t make it,’” said are distracted by every- De Jong, spokesman for the Wong. thing from text messages RCMP. I had to call the babysitter. to lunch when they are Another North Vancouver I was looking at the time. I was behind the wheel. driver was pulled over near using the calculator. It was an That’s the word from Capilano Mall during the emergency, I was calling my local police who finished up month-long enforcement cam- wedding planner. a month of distracted driving paign, playing Pokémon Go on Police have heard most of enforcement with a stealth his phone. the excuses. blitz at the corner of North You name it, say police, One woman handed a Vancouver’s Capilano Road and someone’s probably ticket by police last week and Marine Drive during rush attempted it while driving. blamed her husband – hour on Sept. 28. “That’s eating cereal, shaving, because he was calling her. Police officers disguised as having a dog in your lap,” said Acting Sgt. Randy Wong, of the North Vancouver RCMP’s traffic services, hands out a ticket Tickets for using an elec- during last week’s distracted driving sting operation on Marine Drive. surveyors watched for drivers De Jong. PHOTO KEVIN HILL tronic device while driving whose attention was some- Mark Milner, road safety aren’t cheap – they come with where other than the task at manager for ICBC, said earlier see the same offences over appear to be addicted to their holder, that’s use,” said Wong. a $368 fine and four points on hand. in the week, “I witnessed and over again.” devices. “It takes your eyes away from a driver’s licence. New drivers Most of those nabbed were someone eating a sandwich as “A lot of people think they “They can’t put it down,” the road.” also risk having their licence on their cellphones. big as his head. He was steer- should be able to (use their he said. “They’re on it all the Distracted driving now suspended. “They could have been ing with his elbows.” phones) at stop signs or when time.” accounts for three times as Not counting other forms playing Candy Crush or on “I’ve heard of people traffic is jammed up on the Many people also mis- many injury-causing accidents of distracted driving, North Facebook or looking at a changing their clothes while highway,” he added. “If your takenly believe that it’s only as impaired driving, according Vancouver RCMP have video,” said Cpl. Jag Johal of driving,” he added. “It’s an vehicle is in motion, your if they are talking on their to police and ICBC. handed out 1,433 tickets for the West Vancouver Police unusual decision, definitely.” phone shouldn’t be.” phone or sending a text mes- “It’s a very high risk to driving while using an elec- Department, who teamed up Using an electronic device Acting Sgt. Randy Wong of sage that they are “using” pedestrians and cyclists,” said tronic device so far this year. with North Vancouver RCMP while driving remains one of the North Vancouver RCMP’s their phones. Milner. Wong said following an for the blitz. the biggest causes of dis- traffic services said part of But that’s not the case, say “Those 30 seconds you’ve enforcement blitz at high- Earlier in the day, North tracted driving, say police. the problem is “the technol- officers. got your head down, the volume intersections, the Vancouver RCMP nabbed a Numbers are not declining, ogy was here before the laws “If you look at the screen world’s going by you.” number of crashes goes down new driver on his cellphone a said De Jong. “We continue to came in,” and many people and it activates in your cup The crush of cars trying to by about 23 per cent.

Personalized advice forall your ﬁnancial needs

Whetheryou arepurchasingahome, investment property, We areyourNorthshoreteam or investingfor retirement,it’simportant to getadvicethat’s BarryStahler, CFP tailored to your unique financial situation. Investment Specialist 16 yearsoffinancialservicesexperience Whatever your priorities, we’recommitted to providingyou with 604-365-6686 financing solutionsand investingstrategiestohelpyou reach [email protected] your goals. IvyLim, CFP Investment Specialist 20 yearsoffinancialservicesexperience Take advantageofthe customized services we provide, including: 604-836-2499 [email protected] •Cashflow planning •Competitive rates •Retirement planning •Flexiblemortgagesolutions AllisonGorwill, B.Comm •Retirement income planning •Mortgagerefinancing Home FinancingAdvisor 20 yearsoffinancialservicesexperience •Tax-efficientstrategies •Debtconsolidation •Investmentplanning •Mortgageproduct knowledge 778-991-5712 [email protected]

Contact us todayfor acomplimentary Our ofﬁce is your life. ﬁnancial plan or mortgage review. We can provide you with advice when and whereitmakes sense for you.

®Registered trademark of TheBank of NovaScotia, used under licence.Scotiabank includes TheBank of NovaScotia and its subsidiaries and afﬁliates,including Scotia Securities Inc. As used in this document, “Scotiabank Investment Specialist” refers to aScotia Securities Inc. mutual fund representative or,inQuebec, aGroup Savings Plan Dealer Representative. Scotia Securities Inc. is amember of the Mutual Fund Dealers Association. 3697-2017-0920 F6 District of North Van to push for quicker crash clearing Council to lobby province for measures to ease Hwy 1 gridlock

Jane Seyd / North Shore News

September 29, 2017 04:11 PM

City of North Vancouver firefighters attend an accident scene on the Westview overpass on Sept. 18. photo Cindy Goodman, North Shore News

Apparently North Shore politicians don’t like sitting in traffic gridlock either.

So District of North Vancouver councillors still plan to ask the province to change the way accidents are cleared from North Shore bridges, despite a lukewarm response to that idea at the Union of B.C. Municipalities conference this week.

District of North Vancouver Mayor Richard Walton said being stuck on the highway for three hours recently only bolstered his opinion that it’s a key issue for North Shore commuters.

“I spent three and a half hours in North Burnaby trying to get home,” said Walton, after three accidents snarled the Ironworkers Memorial Second Narrows Crossing Sept. 21. “I missed two appointments including a public one where I was supposed to open a building and everyone was waiting. It was very frustrating.”

Other district councillors are also stressing the need to clear bridge accidents faster.

“I’m going to personally take this up with the government,” said Coun. Jim Hanson, following a vote Thursday at the UBCM convention to send the issue back for further study. “I feel these are very reasonable measures.

“To require all minor accidents to be investigated by the RCMP … when the cut-off is vehicle damage of $1,000, that seems to me totally unrealistic.”

District councillors had hoped to win support from other municipalities in lobbying the province to change the way minor traffic accidents are handled, which often result in massive traffic bottlenecks when they occur on North Shore bridges.

Currently, any collision on a bridge resulting in more than $1,000 in damage means a police accident investigation and police approval to move the cars involved from a provincial highway.

But even minor fender benders will result in that kind of damage these days, argue councillors. They want the province to raise the dollar value at which police must be involved to $10,000 and allow road contractors to clear cars. They also want firefighters to be allowed to fill out accident forms in the case of minor collisions. When it came time to debate the resolution, however, some smaller communities voiced concern that changes could put undue pressure on their volunteer firefighters or result in liability issues.

Walton said that wasn’t the district’s intent.

“We’re only concerned about (the speed of clearing accidents) in urban zones,” he said.

“The confusion seemed to be articulated by people who don’t live anywhere near a bridge.”

The debate on the issue came during a time when several recent accidents have caused gridlock on Highway 1 near the Ironworkers bridge.

On Tuesday morning last week, there was an eight-car pileup on the Lynn Creek bridge during rush hour after several drivers who were following too closely during heavy traffic got into a chain-reaction accident, sending one vehicle partially underneath another. Traffic was snarled for several hours.

Luckily nobody was injured although damage was substantial. “It’s eight vehicles. That’s never going to be cheap,” said Sgt. Len Lecker of the Deas Island traffic service, speaking for the RCMP’s Port Mann traffic division. “People have to maintain a safe following distance.”

Walton said accidents that cause huge backups result in further accidents.

In the recent multiple-accident gridlock he got caught in, “the (drivers of the) cars that got through were obviously very frustrated and by the time they got through the accident scene on the bridge they probably picked up speed and were going way faster than they normally would,” resulting in another accident, he said.

Walton said local MLAs are supportive of district efforts to get accidents cleared faster.

District of North Vancouver council will likely now discuss plans to take the issue up directly with the provincial government, said Walton.

District of North Vancouver council trashes garbage reform http://www.nsnews.com/news/district-of-north-vancouver-council-tras...

Brent Richter / North Shore News

September 27, 2017 12:01 PM

Garbage bins await collection in the District of North Vancouver. photo Mike Wakefield, North Shore News

District of North Vancouver council is leaving a proposal to reform its controversial garbage collection system at the curb.

Coun. Roger Bassam put forward a motion Sept. 18 that would direct the district to “resume the collection of all yard waste that is appropriately presented for collection.”

The district has been rolling out a new system that requires district residents to use lockable bins, replacing the old system that allowed organics to be disposed of in up to six large paper bags (http://www.nsnews.com /news/bumpy-rollout-for-new-garbage-carts-1.21905319). But, beyond some bumps in the early implementation, many residents have complained just one weekend of yard work could fill several weeks’ worth of bins.

That was unacceptable, according to Bassam, who argued that garbage collection is one of the core duties expected of municipalities.

The district has already tweaked the system to allow residents a second 240-litre garbage cart free of charge with the option to purchase even more, in response to citizen complaints. At 480 litres per household, the district allows more garbage output than any municipality in the Lower Mainland, according to district staff, and the district is one of only two in the Lower Mainland that still has weekly collection.

Bassam could find only one ally on council, though: Coun. Jim Hanson.

1 of 2 10/1/2017 7:57 PM “It might make sense. There might be good reasons for it. There might be good science behind it. But from my point of view based on the community feedback ... somehow it just missed the mark in terms of satisfying the community need,” Hanson said.

The remaining five members of council said it was too soon to reform the system when some neighbourhoods haven’t even received their new bins yet. So far, only 35,000 of the 52,000 bins the district expects to distribute have been delivered.

Coun. Lisa Muri said it would be appropriate to review the entire system after it has been in place for a full year, allowing all the kinks in the system to be resolved. Muri is an avid gardener who hasn’t yet seen for herself how the system will work when it arrives in her neighbourhood.

“I really think to be fair to the whole community, we all have to get our cans before we open up this can of worms, or leaves, or whatever you want to call it, again,” she said.

Coun. Mathew Bond suggested only two per cent of single-family lots in the district are big enough that two bins wouldn’t suffice. Designing the system for the needs of that two per cent would be an unfair burden to the other 90 per cent, he added.

“There are private solutions. You can hire lots of great contractors in this community that will gladly come by if you pay them a fee and they’ll take your yard waste a way,” he said.

Brent Richter / North Shore News

September 27, 2017 12:01 PM

Garbage bins await collection in the District of North Vancouver. photo Mike Wakefield, North Shore News

District of North Vancouver council is leaving a proposal to reform its controversial garbage collection system at the curb.

Coun. Roger Bassam put forward a motion Sept. 18 that would direct the district to “resume the collection of all yard waste that is appropriately presented for collection.”

 New locking garbage carts to roll out in DNV  LETTER: New garbage scheme ignores fall, spring garden cleanups  LETTER: Garbage cart rollout: Cap resident weighs in  Bumpy rollout for new garbage carts  LETTER: New plastic garbage cans hardly ‘green’  LETTER: District of North Vancouver responds to Cap resident’s garbage cart rollout concerns

The district has been rolling out a new system that requires district residents to use lockable bins, replacing the old system that allowed organics to be disposed of in up to six large paper bags. But, beyond some bumps in the early implementation, many residents have complained just one weekend of yard work could fill several weeks’ worth of bins.

That was unacceptable, according to Bassam, who argued that garbage collection is one of the core duties expected of municipalities.

“We had a system that works. We engineered a solution that sort of works but really has fallen short of a number of people’s desires for their service levels in the community,” Bassam said. “The feedback that I’ve received from the community is ‘Hang on a second, I’m already paying a lot of money in taxes. I just need an ability to handle a surge of green waste twice a year.’” The district has already tweaked the system to allow residents a second 240-litre garbage cart free of charge with the option to purchase even more, in response to citizen complaints. At 480 litres per household, the district allows more garbage output than any municipality in the Lower Mainland, according to district staff, and the district is one of only two in the Lower Mainland that still has weekly collection.

Bassam could find only one ally on council, though: Coun. Jim Hanson.

“It might make sense. There might be good reasons for it. There might be good science behind it. But from my point of view based on the community feedback ... somehow it just missed the mark in terms of satisfying the community need,” Hanson said.

“I really think to be fair to the whole community, we all have to get our cans before we open up this can of worms, or leaves, or whatever you want to call it, again,” she said.

“There are private solutions. You can hire lots of great contractors in this community that will gladly come by if you pay them a fee and they’ll take your yard waste a way,” he said.

District of North Vancouver looks to make Upper Cap subdivisions http://www.nsnews.com/news/district-of-north-vancouver-looks-to-make-upper-cap-subdivisions-1.22932575

Brent Richter / North Shore News

September 22, 2017 09:41 AM

Canyon Boulevard is within the study area that could see owners apply to create small single-family lots to allow for affordable housing in Upper Capilano. photo Mike Wakefield, North Shore News

NOTE: This story has been updated to correct an error in the description of SLIA boundaries.

It could soon be easier for some residents to double down on their properties, or is it split the difference? related

 Big worries about small lots in upper Capilano

District of North Vancouver council voted Monday night to begin drawing up an amended bylaw that would make it easier for people who own 66-foot lots in the Upper Capilano neighbourhood to subdivide them into two 33-foot lots.

If approved by council following a public hearing, the district would create new “small lot infill areas” or SLIAs along the north side of Montroyal Boulevard between Cliffridge Avenue and Ranger Avenue, and on Canyon Boulevard and Clements Avenue between Cliffridge and Belvedere Drive. Council is also reviewing the possibility of adding the 1000 block of Prospect Avenue.

The intent is to facilitate the creation of some smaller and, relatively, more affordable homes as the neighbourhood has become a destination for the wealthy as well as developers seeking to build 5,000-square foot “monster homes.”

The property owners would still have to apply for and go through a regulatory process for a subdivision but they would no longer have to come before council for a vote.

If every eligible owner took advantage, there would be a net increase of 59 new single-family homes in the neighbourhood. A survey of the residents in the area found slim majorities in support of creating more 33-foot lots.

A swath of residents who live in the area, mostly from 66-foot lot properties, turned out to urge council to go ahead with the plan.

Canyon Boulevard resident Jane Nicol said her biggest concern is for the low enrolment at Montroyal Elementary.

“The school really is the lifeblood of the community. I’ve been in the situation before where the school is up for closure and it’s heartbreaking. And it affects property values too,” she said. “I really feel strongly we have to do everything we can to keep these schools going, and small lots would do that. You can see it on Canyon (Boulevard).

“The smaller lots have younger families and younger families are what we need.”

Coun. Mathew Bond, however, suggested that council go one step further allow duplexes on 33-foot lots.

Bond reasoned that if affordability were the goal, two 1,500-square-foot units on one lot would make more sense than one 3,000-square-foot home. But, the idea hadn’t been vetted through a staff study or public consultation, and as such, was rejected by the majority on district council.

District to look for family shelter location

Maria Spitale-Leisk / North Shore News

October 10, 2017 05:01 PM

Don Liu represents Maplewood Limited Partnership, which is open to working with North Vancouver District to offer 14 vacant suites as temporary housing. photo Paul McGrath, North Shore News

With sobering North Shore homeless stats staring them in the face, including 143 children without a stable home, North Vancouver District council has directed staff to explore locations for a family shelter.

Council members unanimously agreed Oct. 2 there is now a sense of urgency to get the ball rolling on a business case for a new shelter, after learning of the emerging homeless crisis from a North Shore Homelessness Task Force report released last week.

In addition to the 736 unique individuals considered absolutely homeless on the North Shore last year, the report revealed another 295 people at imminent risk of being displaced. Twenty-four per cent of those people at risk of homelessness and seeking social services were families with children. “I don’t think this is a very proud moment for the Lower Mainland or for this council,” said Coun. Lisa Muri.

While supportive of creating a family shelter, Muri suggested the stop-gap measure would not be enough to stem the homeless crisis.

“We’re the most expensive city on the planet and there’s 143 kids on the North Shore that have no place to live and we’re going to get ourselves off the hook by building a shelter,” said Muri, her voice breaking with emotion.

“I’d like to know how many of these people, with this (homeless) number going up, were living in apartments that we rezoned so we could build some new, very expensive, million-dollar two- bedroom condos.”

While acknowledging the district has a role to play in sheltering the homeless, Coun. Doug MacKay-Dunn said any such social program has to be a partnership.

A staff report states the district would work with the North Shore Homelessness Task Force to find a non-profit organization to operate the shelter and explore potential operational and capital funding partners.

Calling the homeless shelter a provincial responsibility, Coun. Roger Bassam said it needs to be funded wholly, not piecemeal, by the province.

“And if that means people have to pay more (provincial) tax, people have to pay more tax,” said Bassam.

The district might be able to supply land for a shelter, said some council members. Mayor Richard Walton, meanwhile, questioned where they would find land for the project.

“Land is not in huge supply in the district in places where you would choose to put a facility such as this,” said Walton, adding it would make sense to have the family shelter close to schools, public transit and within walking distance of community amenities.

Muri brought forward an idea to have the district right away put up several million dollars to buy three houses as an investment but temporarily use them as family shelters.

Should the homeless shelter project move forward, district residents would have a chance to weigh in on any land use changes.

Currently, there are two family shelters operating in Metro Vancouver, including a 12-bed facility in New Westminster that provides no-cost emergency housing to single parents (men or women and their children), two-parent families and single adult women.

Locally, there is an 18-bed transition house for women and their children fleeing abusive situations, operated by North Shore Crisis Services Society. With another “bitterly cold winter” on its way, said Muri, time is of the essence to find shelter for the homeless.

Muri's motion to have district staff identify potential short-term tenancies and talk to developers to see if there are vacant suites in residential buildings waiting to be demolished passed unanimously.

The News reached out to development companies which currently have rezoning applications filed with the district, to see if they could house some homeless families temporarily.

At Maplewood Plaza an empty building with 14 three-bedroom townhouse-style suites might offer such an opportunity. Tenants in those 14 units moved out more than a year ago after learning a teardown of the building was imminent.

Property owners Maplewood Limited Partnership have this past year offered a vacant suite to a Syrian refugee family and also housed a young working couple at half the market rent.

While cautiously optimistic, MLP representative Don Liu said the property owners are willing to talk to the district about opening up that empty building for social housing, provided there’s no extra cost to them.

“We feel that having a building empty is ridiculous,” said Liu. “If we can help someone out, by all means.”

Standing out in the chilly fall air, Liu wonders if there is a way to help the homeless – at least for this winter. He’s anticipating it will be at least springtime before shovels are in the ground at Maplewood.

In the Seymour area, Anthem Properties, which owns an eight-building, 114-unit condominium complex, has filed a rezoning application with the district and recently had its first open house to introduce the proposal to the neighbourhood.

Anthem communications director Randene Neill said she wasn’t sure if there are vacant suites in Seymour Estates, but Anthem would “absolutely” be open to any requests from the district.

Meanwhile, there are no vacancies at Emery Village, a 65-unit townhouse complex in Lynn Valley awaiting redevelopment by Mosaic Homes.

“… I expect that the homes are going to stay occupied until there is certainty in what the future plans for Emery look like,” said Geoff Duyker, Mosaic’s senior vice-president of marketing, adding any units that have become vacant are re-rented fairly quickly

EDITORIAL: Dorm days

North Shore News

September 24, 2017 07:00 AM

Capilano University now has its first residence building located on Dollarton Highway. file photo Mike Wakefield, North Shore News

As we reported this week, the first cohort of students in Capilano University’s dormitories are bedding down each night at a repurposed boarding school on Dollarton Highway.

The rents are affordable. The food is good. The students who live in them are making important connections and friendships. And they’re now just a 15-minute bus ride from campus.

Despite the images that “student housing” may conjure up – beer pong, Bob Marley posters and toga parties, we found the place looked more like a study hall than a National Lampoon movie.

The scarcity of available apartments on the North Shore makes it extremely difficult for young people to find a place of their own. And the price makes it almost impossible. Because of its location, commuting to Cap either means more cars on the highway or hours a day spent on a series of buses.

Cap is no longer the community college it once was. It’s a university drawing students from around the province and around the world.

We have nothing but praise for CapU’s administrators and for the landowner, Darwin Properties, for coming up with this elegant solution in the midst of a housing crisis. This is an excellent start but it is only a temporary measure as the land will eventually by redeveloped and it’s not like there is another unused boarding school sitting around waiting to be repurposed.

There are a couple projects coming down the pipes in the District of North Vancouver that may include student housing. When these projects come before council, we urge our council members and our residents to keep an open mind and to fondly remember their own dorm days. BALDREY: Electoral reform all but a sure thing for B.C.

Keith Baldrey / Contributing Writer

October 11, 2017 07:30 AM

photo supplied Ian D. Keating/Flickr

The odds are looking very good that when British Columbians go to cast their ballot in the next provincial election, they will be using a radically different voting system than the one used for more than 60 years.

That’s because the NDP government has tabled legislation requiring a referendum next fall on whether or not to move to a proportional representation voting model, and it has signaled it may stack the deck considerably to ensure the referendum result is indeed a shift to PR.

The legislation allows the provincial cabinet to not only draft the question (which may be more than one), but – and this is crucial – allows it to order that the ballots are to be counted on a preferential voting basis.

This means that if two (or more) different proportional representation models are offered as choices in front of voters, along with the choice of the first-past-the-post system currently in use, it seems likely one of the PR models will cross the 50 per cent hurdle needed to pass into law.

If no option crosses that 50 per cent threshold on the first count, then the second choices of voters (and the third choices as well) are redistributed and counted and it would seem logical that a person voting for one particular PR model would make the alternative PR model their second choice. It seems far less likely that someone favouring a move to PR would make their second choice to be the first- past-the-post model. Thus, if the current FPTP model doesn’t hit 50 per cent in favour on the first count, the odds of it growing from voters’ second choices do not look good.

Call it clever, unfair or cynical but the legislation seems tilted to ensure a change to some kind of proportional representation is in the offing. British Columbians have twice rejected such a change in previous referendums, but the table is set considerably different this time around.

Not all New Democrats favour moving to a new voting system, which is understandable. After all, the party is currently in government thanks to a somewhat unusual and quirky outcome from a first-past-the-post election.

The party has never achieved 50 per cent of the vote (in fact, only the B.C. Liberals have done that and even then it was only a one-time achievement) and is unlikely to do so in the future. A proportional representation system will ensure no party has a monopoly on power, and will reward minor or fringe parties with a disproportionate amount of political power.

But Premier John Horgan favours a move to PR, as does Green Party Leader Andrew Weaver, so it is no surprise the legislation is crafted the way it is. And it is the Greens’ all-in move towards getting a PR system in this province that is reflected in another part of the legislation.

In what appears to be a sly and cunning move, the NDP has inserted a clause in the bill that stipulates that even if the referendum passes and a shift to PR is indeed endorsed, the earliest an election can be held with the new system is July, 2021.

This cute move means the Greens are beholden to keep the NDP in power until at least then, no matter what the NDP does. The Greens have made switching to a PR model their absolutely number one priority, since it presents the best (and perhaps only) chance of winning significant representation in the legislature.

And so the party cannot risk an earlier election. So it strongly appears the NDP government, which seemed to have a shaky hold on power in the summer, has significant stability until at least the summer of 2021 (and likely right through to the new election date – the third Saturday in October of that year).

The legislation in question is Bill 6, the Electoral Reform Referendum 2018 Act. It may change the shape of future B.C. governments forever. The NDP says it will conduct a round of public consultation before deciding on the referendum question, but you have to wonder whether it’s already been written.

Fire debate rekindles District of North Van garbage dustup Organics dumping may exacerbate wildfire risk

Jeremy Shepherd / North Shore News

October 10, 2017 03:43 PM

A Metro Vancouver watershed protection team uses axes to probe for spot fires following a 2012 blaze near Maplewood Flats. After witnessing rapidly spreading forest fires throughout B.C. this summer, Coun. Doug MacKay-Dunn is pushing for the District of North Vancouver to secure the tenuous border between city and forest. file photo Mike Wakefield, North Shore News The District of North Vancouver is planning to spend $127,000 on wildfire protection – but that may not be enough, according to one councillor. At their Oct. 2 meeting, district council voted unanimously to devote $127,274 to wildfire prevention on the border between urban and forested land. Those funds are buttressed by $377,905 from the Union of B.C. Municipalities. The money is earmarked to complete the last two recommendations of the 2007 Community Wildfire Protection Plan, including clearing branches and vegetation that could serve as wildfire fuel from a 17-hectare swath of land bordering Braemar Park, Mountain Highway, St. Mary’s Avenue and Hoskins Road. When that work is complete, the district will have cleared ladder fuels including small trees, brush and dried branches from 50 hectares. That work would leave approximately 20 hectares still in need of treatment. The money from the district and the UBCM would also go toward developing a post-fire plan which may be critical in assuaging landslide risks along the district’s steep terrain, according to a district report. While council was unanimous in supporting those measures, they were somewhat divided over a motion put forward by Coun. Doug MacKay-Dunn that touched on the district’s organic waste pickup policy. After the district’s new garbage collection system met with complaints from several residents, Coun. Roger Bassam put forward a motion at a September meeting to essentially resume the old system. The motion was defeated with five councillors, including Coun. MacKay-Dunn, voting against it. However, in light of the fire risk posed by dumped organics, Coun. MacKay-Dunn suggested council re- examine the issue through the prism of public safety. “If we don’t pick up the organic waste, where does it go? It can go over banks, it could end up in trails, and certainly it becomes ladder fuel,” he said. Mayor Richard Walton, as well as Couns. Mathew Bond and Robin Hicks rejected re-opening the organic bin debate. Waste pickup is an issue unto itself, said Hicks, who suggested MacKay-Dunn’s motion may confuse that issue. However, MacKay-Dunn did get support from Bassam, who argued organic material deposited in greenbelts can dry out by summertime. The district will also face flood risks if organic material drifts into catch basins, according to Bassam, who pointed out that people’s behaviour is generally driven by economics. Reducing fire risks between urban and wildlife areas will likely take a concerted effort, according to Bassam. “I don’t think we can afford to do this by hiring our own staff and having everyone run around, this looks like it’s going to be a collective effort of all of our citizens cleaning up as best they can on their own interface.” Removing ladder fuel, while desirable, nonetheless disrupts the life cycle of a forest, Bassam pointed out. “How often do we have to intervene if we don’t have this natural cycle in effect?” he asked. While there are ferns and huckleberries growing around Grousewoods today, the forest seemed barren after ladder fuels were removed seven years ago, Walton noted. “When they took out all that undergrowth it was awful,” he said, explaining workers mitigated the fire risk by removing “dead, spindly things.” Before fire hazards are removed from a forested area it’s important to notify the neighbourhood, Walton said, explaining that it can take five to 10 years before the area looks verdant again. Coun. Mathew Bond concurred. “The immediate effects of the wildfire treatment can be drastic for people that frequent those areas,” he said. Fire prevention should be a line item in the district’s budget, “so we’re not relying on the generosity of others,” MacKay-Dunn said. “I would hate to be here a year from now saying, ‘Gosh, I wish we’d done something.’” With summers expected to be longer, hotter and drier, wildfires are North Vancouver’s “top threat related to climate change,” according to the district climate change adaptation strategy. District bylaws passed in 2012 mandate that homes in areas at greater risks of wildfires must be built to more stringent construction standards.

Greater Vancouver home prices to drop 21 per cent by 2019: analysis Technical charts point to prolonged house price slide, technical analyst contends

Frank O'Brien / Western Investor

October 3, 2017 10:00 AM

Photo Dan Toulgoet

The average price of a detached house in Greater Vancouver will decline 21 per cent from its recent peak to $1.5 million by 2019 and will stay at that level until a recovery begins in late 2021, according to a forecast based on historical trading patterns.

“Sell now and begin buying again in four to five years,” is the advice from Dane Eitel, a North Shore realtor who has applied the discipline of technical charting used in the equity market to forecast Greater Vancouver’s housing market.

His call is for the average detached-house price to fall from the recent peak of $1.8 million to $1.48 million to $1.5 million in the latter half of 2019. Prices will remain in that range for two years before bottoming in 2021.

Eitel concentrated on detached housing because it does not have the supply swings common to the condominium or townhouse sectors. “It all starts with detached houses,” he said.

By looking at 40 years of Greater Vancouver detached-house sales and average price cycles, Eitel is confident that a trading pattern is established that will play out over the next five to seven years. He noted that the last long-term cycle began in October 1987 and ran to 1996, during which time average house prices increased 190 per cent and peaked at $286,000 in February 1995. The average price then dropped 19 per cent to bottom out in December 1996.

Prices did not recover to the earlier price peak until November 2002, six years later.

We are seeing a similar pattern today, Eitel said.

“The current Vancouver detached-housing market has been on a long term uptrend line established during the 2008-09 recession,” he said. “We have tested this long term uptrend line six times since its inception in November 2008, which was the bottom of that cycle. At that time the average sale price was $750,686. In each of the six instances, the line has held true and propelled the market higher.

“This time, however, we will be seeing a similar event as during the 1990s, with a growth percentage of 144 per cent over the uptrend, which started from the low point in November 2008 and topped out in May 2017. By 2019 we will be on another collision course with two divergent trends converging on middle ground of the trading range to see which one will win out. This time we do have such downtrend occurrence positioning itself, eerily similar to the ‘90s. The time is upcoming for another long-term [downward] trend of more inventory, less volatility and lower average sale prices,” he explained.

Eitel claims that residential investors can use technical charting to successfully time the market.

Source: Western Investor

“From all data collected from the Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver [REBGV] dating from January 1977, the real estate market has acted in a predictable manner. This has not been noticed to date as a prevalent factor in the real estate community. Equity markets have been using technical charting all over the world on a daily basis. While this may come as a shocking revelation to some in the real estate community, the fact remains that technical charting works.”

Eitel noted that his theory of technical forecasting dates back to Charles Dow, who founded both the Wall Street Journal and the Dow Jones industrial average more than 100 years ago. Dow, Eitel said, proved that “history repeats itself and human psychology for buying and selling in a marketplace could be prognosticated using technical analysis.”

POLITICAL FACTOR

Eitel said that current conditions mirror the 1990s in that the Greater Vancouver housing market is also at the peak of a 10-year price growth cycle with similar price increases, and the political environment is also similar.

“The last time we had a Liberal prime minister and an NDP premier in B.C. was from November 1993 when Jean Chretien was elected and the NDP’s Michael Harcourt was already in power, since November 1991. The average detached sale price in November 1993 was $347,300. The two parties remained in power until June of 2001. The total price growth of the Greater Vancouver detached market during that period of time was 6 per cent,” he said.

“I do expect the market to come off from its highs and sell in the lower half of the trading range starting late in 2019 and lasting for years. However, I also firmly believe in Vancouver’s property values long term. At any time, you can buy a detached house and 10 years later that property will be worth more.”

CURRENT CONDITIONS

Sales of Greater Vancouver detached houses in August 2017 reached 901 units, a 26 per cent increase from the 715 detached sales recorded in August 2016. The benchmark price for detached properties as of August was $1,615,100. This represents a 2.2 per cent increase from August 2016 and a 0.2 per cent increase compared with July 2017, reports the REBGV.

This appears to challenge Eitel’s forecast of falling sales and higher inventory leading to a prolonged decline in detached house prices.

However, Eitel explains that the board uses benchmark prices, not average prices. He contends average prices provide a more accurate reading of real market conditions. He says that average Greater Vancouver house prices peaked in May 2017 at $1.8 million, and have been declining ever since.

Eitel also notes that the REBGV reports that total sales of detached houses in Greater Vancouver have fallen 33 per cent in the first eight months of this year compared with 2016, to 8,268 units. In three municipalities, benchmark prices are lower now than a year ago.

His advice to speculators: sell now and begin buying back into the Greater Vancouver detached housing market in the fourth quarter of 2021, which will be the bottom of the market. The breakout will begin then with a new price peak reached in mid-2023, Eitel contends.

Gregor Robertson proposes giving locals 1st shot at new condos

Mayor suggests modelling policy on 2016 agreement in West Vancouver

CBC News Posted: Oct 06, 2017 1:18 PM PT Last Updated: Oct 06, 2017 1:18 PM PT

Coal Harbour is home to some of Vancouver's priciest condo developments. (David Horemans/CBC)

Vancouver's mayor wants to give local residents priority access to presale condos, in an attempt to prevent the practice of flipping in order to help address skyrocketing real estate prices.

Gregor Robertson says he plans to introduce a motion at the next city council meeting Oct. 17, calling on staff to develop a policy to help locals find affordable homes.

"In Vancouver's red-hot housing market, local employers are crunched to retain talent, whether they're doctors, tech workers, retailers, firefighters, teachers or nurses. I regularly hear stories about people who work in Vancouver but are forced to move elsewhere in the region, because they can't find a place to live," Robertson said in a news release.

The policy would favour anyone who lives and works in Metro Vancouver, no matter their citizenship, he added.

The mayor also suggested the policy might be modelled on a 2016 agreement between the District of West Vancouver and Westbank Corp., a Vancouver-based developer, which stipulated Westbank would only market homes in a new condo project to district residents for the first 30 days. For the next 60 days, those condos could only be marketed to Metro Vancouver residents. That agreement also restricted bulk purchases of units and required purchasers to sign a declaration saying they would live in the home rather than flipping it to a new buyer.

"Vancouver's "Housing Vancouver" strategy seeks to dramatically increase the supply of new housing, but it needs to be the right supply — homes that are affordable for people who live and work in Vancouver," Robertson said. Flipping probed by CRA

In an investigation last year, the Globe and Mail revealed major Vancouver developers were privately selling prebuilt condos to friends and family before offering units up to the general public.

This practice allowed the buyers to reassign their contracts to new purchasers at higher prices before the deal closed.

Earlier this year, the Canadian government began a series of actions in federal court, in a bid to force developers to provide details about buyers who flipped presale contracts before construction was completed.

UPDATED: Grouse Mountain sign thieves putting public at risk, North Shore Rescue says

Brent Richter / North Shore News

September 25, 2017 04:11 PM

Updated: September 26, 2017 02:40 PM

North Shore Rescue veteran Wally Kerchum prepares to hang a trail marker on a tree. The volunteer agency is wondering who is deliberately removing them. photo Cindy Goodman, North Shore News

North Shore Rescue volunteers are confounded. Someone is deliberately and repeatedly taking down the trail markers the search and rescue team installed on Grouse Mountain to help prevent hikers from getting lost.

The team was called out Sunday evening to rescue a hiker who lost his way while coming down the BCMC Trail. The man wasn’t properly equipped for a backcountry hike but he was able to get cellphone reception, so finding him wasn’t a challenge, said Mike Danks, North Shore Rescue’s team leader.

But, frustratingly, the trail markers and signs the man could have used to guide his way down to the bottom had all been removed.

“Without having access to the markers that are on the trees, this can be very challenging and it leads to the potential of people getting injured or stuck,” he said. “(We) have marked that trail three times now from top to bottom and three times, all those markings have been taken down.”

The work is done by the team’s senior members who no longer go tromping off into the bush for all-night rescue efforts in the elements. “These guys are doing this thankless job in the background and it’s making a huge difference for our calls. It’s working so well, it’s probably lowering the number of calls that we’re getting,” Danks said.

Between 200 and 300 markers have gone missing from the McKay Creek, Larson, Old BCMC and Dreamweaver trails. Many of the markers were placed high off the ground and required a ladder to install.

“Someone is going to great trouble to take these markers off,” said Wally Kerchum, one of the teams’ senior members who oversees the trail marking program. “They’re putting the public at risk and they’re putting our members are risk when they have to go in and rescue them.”

Kerchum said he also noticed a safety rope the team installed to help hikers through a steep section has been cut and removed. “It’s very disconcerting,” he said. The team has puzzled over why someone would be so callous towards others’ safety, Danks said, but the only motivation they can fathom is simple selfishness.

“There’s obviously some people out there who feel that this is a private trail that they don’t want anyone else to go on and enjoy,” he said. “It just doesn’t make much sense.”

The District of West Vancouver and District of North Vancouver’s parks departments supply the “flashers,” which the volunteers place every 20 metres or so on popular trails. West Vancouver Secondary’s woodshop students also hand-make signs for trailheads. All three organizations have said they’ll resupply NSR with new signs but the worry that they too will go missing remains.

North Shore Rescue veterans Wally Kerchum and Peter Haigh oversee West Vancouver Secondary woodworking students, who have been making signs to help keep backcountry hikers on trail. photo Mike Wakefield, North Shore News

Kerchum said he’d like to see someone come forward and identify the sign thief.

Danks also has a message for whoever is responsible. “We’re happy to sit down and talk to these people but it’s wasting our time. We’ve put a tremendous amount of effort into making sure these trails are accessible for everybody and that the people on these trails are safe.”

North Vancouver RCMP spokesman Richard De Jong said the police have not yet opened a criminal file but if a person were to be caught, they could be charged with mischief.

Most of the land in question is part of the 75-hectare Grouse Mountain Regional Park, which was created by Metro Vancouver this year.

Other than the Grind, all of the trails on Grouse were volunteer built and have never had a formal caretaker. That is likely to change after Metro completes its 10-year master plan for the park, which is now in public consultations.

“Since we’ve taken over the park, we’ve been doing boundary surveys and mapping the routes of all the trails … within the park. We’re also patrolling the Grouse Grind regularly and the BCMC,” said Jeff Fitzpatrick, division manager of western area regional parks. “Over the long term, we’ll be looking at signage throughout the whole park and looking at wayfinding at all the trails.”

SULLIVAN: ‘Sully’ for mayor: Keep North Van Beautiful

Paul Sullivan / Contributing writer

September 28, 2017 03:43 PM

file photo Kevin Hill, North Shore News

I’d make a terrible politician.

For one thing, if you read this column you may have noticed I keep confusing my inside voice with my outside voice. You see how that could be a problem.

For another, I’d have to work on that vision thing. “Make America Great Again” is a great slogan. It must be. Against all odds, it got Donald Trump elected. And the Donald and I have something in common: we’re both superannuated rookies and neither of us has any idea what we’re talking about. But that doesn’t seem to be a barrier.

However, “Make North Vancouver Great Again” leaves me cold. For one thing, North Vancouver is already great. And what, exactly, do we mean by “great”? If Trump’s vision of America is any idea ... er, great.

So let’s say Richard Walton decides to throw in the towel before the next election, a little over a year away on Oct. 20, 2018, after more than 16 years as mayor and district councillor. He must be thinking along those lines. Imagine enduring 16 years of weekly council meetings listening to one-issue cranks waste oxygen or proclaiming International Bermuda Shorts Day.

So I figure the mayor’s salary has crept up to more than $100,000 annually and it’s there for the taking – easy money! All I have to do is get elected. I just have to prevent my inside voice from escaping, and come up for a slogan that will keep my outside voice busy.

And I’ve got one: Keep North Vancouver Beautiful. Right now, you’re thinking. He’s right; he would make a terrible politician. But work with me here. It’s a slogan, not a policy platform. And it’s what the people want – remember; the 2016 Vital Signs survey identified “natural beauty” as the number one thing that people like about North Vancouver. Of course, there are things they don’t like – a shortage of housing and a surplus of traffic being the top two. But the trick, according to this superannuated rookie know-nothing, is to keep our community beautiful while solving its issues.

Of course, people want to live here because it’s so beautiful. I sometimes think we could solve the housing crisis if we just allow more billionaires to build more auto malls on the ocean shore, but that’s just me confusing outside and inside voice again.

Seriously, we need affordable housing; therefore we need density, which is not inherently beautiful. But it’s amazing what you can with the judicious use of greenbelts, trees, landscaping and a light touch. The idea is to create density with an esthetic eye. If it comes down to a developer versus a park, let beauty be your guide. And if that fails, look at the auto mall and do the opposite.

I’m not being entirely fair – the little waterfront park in front of the auto mall is exactly what I’m talking about. Park architects successfully blended landscaping, vacant green space, walking trails and public art to create an island of serenity in the city, even if it does provide an excellent view of a barge.

Then there’s the big NIMBY. Or maybe we should say Not in Our Back Yard (NIOBY?). In this case, our backyard is North Shore mountains. Metro Vancouver has already taken a positive step to keep it beautiful by turning Grouse Mountain into a park. But there’s development pressure all along the mountain range, from Cypress to Seymour, and as they make decisions about mountain development, I advise politicians across the North Shore to be careful and remember their legacy will be visible all the way to White Rock.

If anything threatens to sink the beauty project, it’s traffic. Just look at what’s happening to the verdant Cut, which is being assiduously bulldozed to rationalize the Mountain Highway on-ramp problem. As your next mayor, I applaud the initiative – no one would ever describe the Upper Levels Parking Lot as beautiful, but the challenge is to prevent the Cut from resembling downtown Los Angeles when the work is finished. My pledge: send in the Beauty Patrol with a plan to give Mother Nature a boost once we’re done. Just think of all the landscaping jobs for North Shore daughters and sons.

See? When you follow beauty, everything else falls into place. Call it balance, call it sustainability, but make sure we keep North Vancouver beautiful.

As the poet said: “Beauty is truth, truth beauty – that is all ye know on earth, and all ye need to know.”

He wasn’t much of a politician either.

Journalist and communications consultant Paul Sullivan has been a North Van resident since the fall of the Berlin Wall and the rise of Madonna. [email protected].

Lions Gate model uncovered in thrift store Twinning bridge idea considered before being scrapped

Ben Bengtson / North Shore News

September 27, 2017 08:49 AM

North Vancouver Museum and Archives director Nancy Kirkpatrick examines a model from the 1990s of a proposed twinned version of the Lions Gate Bridge. photo Cindy Goodman, North Shore News

A recent acquisition by the North Vancouver Museum and Archives conveys something of an alternate timeline for the North Shore, one that for many might have meant a less infuriating commute.

Nestled safely in the organization’s archives room in Lynn Valley, currently not on display, lies a proposed twinned version of the Lions Gate Bridge – except this one is six feet in length, not 6,000.

“I’m fascinated by what might have been,” says museum and archives director Nancy Kirkpatrick about the model, dating from 1994, that the museum came into possession of last year.

The museum’s reference historian Daien Ide was tipped off that the Burnaby Hospice Thrift Store on Kingsway was in possession of a Lions Gate Bridge model with a unique twist.

The historic item was being sold with an attached price tag somewhere around $200, Kirkpatrick explains. When the idea was floated that the museum should look into bringing the model back home, she says the answer of how to proceed was instantly clear.

“Immediately I said, ‘Absolutely,’” she says. “We want to be a museum about our community -- past, present and future. What is one of the perennial, most important topics on the minds of people that live and work here? Transportation.”

Perennial is right, especially considering the twinned bridge model was created as a serious proposal meant to help alleviate some of Vancouver and the North Shore’s traffic woes.

The Lions Gate was first opened in 1938. By the time the 1990s rolled around, however, the bridge required extensive repairs or, as many proposed, a total bridge replacement.

Information collected by the museum in the wake of the model discovery explains that debate at the local and provincial level over the course of many years produced numerous public input sessions, reports, government studies, and engineering proposals.

Should a new bridge be built altogether?

Should a double-decker bridge be constructed, or should a tunnel be built under the Burrard Inlet?

These were the questions that kept planners, architects and municipalities up at night.

The Squamish Nation, who owned the land on the north end of the bridge, proposed an idea to twin the bridge in partnership with Montreal-based architect Moshe Safdie and engineering firm SNC-Lavalin.

The model that’s now in the museum’s possession bears the mark of Safdie Architects, famous for designing and helping construct such treasured Canadian buildings as the National Gallery in Ottawa, Habitat 67 in Montreal, and Vancouver’s own public library.

Upon observing the model, Kirkpatrick says she likes the twinning of the bridge idea because it wouldn’t have necessarily disrupted the look and feel of the original bridge.

“It’s just a twin of it, but it does provide the additional traffic flow which is as we all see now, as development increases the pace in our region, that we need to have more capacity,” she says.

Ultimately, in 1998 after decades of debate the B.C. government abandoned plans to replace or significantly alter the Lions Gate, instead opting to upgrade the existing bridge without expanding it.

“It’s such a quirky story,” says writer and local historian Eve Lazarus, who first blogged about the museum’s acquisition of the model back in August for a series she has dubbed Saving History.

“It’s just really interesting when you look at these aborted plans and think we’re still grappling with these same issues.”

She adds that while she loves the look of the model and the idea of twinning the bridge, she’s hesitant about what might have happened to Stanley Park if significant redevelop or replacement of the bridge had been undertaken, which might have meant expanding the number of lanes on the causeway or deforesting a large portion of the northbound entrance. “They would have had to have taken a chunk out of it.”

While it’s still a mystery exactly how the model ended up at the Burnaby thrift store after all these decades -- presumably after an individual donated it to the store after finding it in a back alley, according to Kirkpatrick – the museum is happy to have it.

Last year, the City of North Vancouver approved the construction of a new 16,000-square-foot home for the North Vancouver Museum and Archives.

The new location, which will be located on the 100 block of West Esplanade, is slated to open in 2019 across from Lonsdale Quay and the new Polygon Gallery.

Kirkpatrick hopes the twinned bridge model can find a home in the new museum as a testament to the city’s past and a look at what could have been.

“We’ve got the high-level concepts as we head into this next phase, then we’ll start identifying the artifacts that are going to be used to carry through the big themes and stories,” she says.

“We’ll know at that point whether we have a spot in the permanent exhibit for this model or whether it will be something that we’ll design some other kind of exhibit around.”

The museum has been deaccessioning, or getting rid of some artifacts, in recent years in order to free up space for items of cultural and historic importance, such as the twinned bridge model, that represents the story of the North Shore, Kirkpatrick says.

“The reason we’re doing that is to make room for cool, new things and for things that really relate to the key themes of our community,” she says.

“We’re interested, in general, in this whole issue of what connects North Vancouver to the rest of our region.”

In 2000 and 2001, the main deck of the bridge was replaced in an effort to repair the ailing structure after plans to possibly replace or significantly alter the bridge faltered.

In 2005, the Lions Gate Bridge was declared a National Historic Site of Canada, Identified as one of the country’s “technical and engineering landmarks,” by the nation’s Historic Sites and Monuments Board.

Talk of the North Shore’s perennial traffic problems persists to this day.

A4 | NEWS sunday focusnsnews.com north shore news SUNDAY, OCTOBER 8, 2017

Earth scientists have determined that 40 massive earthquakes have occurred along the Cascadia Subduction Zone over the past 10,000 years. Nineteen of those were full-rupture 9.0 megathrust earthquakes, the most recent taking place on Jan. 26, 1700 at 9 p.m. GRAPHIC: EARTHQUAKE DATA, CHRIS GOLDFINGER, OREGON STATE UNIVERSITY/TIMELINE, IAN P. MADIN, DOGAMI

‘Smaller’ earthquakes pose greater risk than the next Big One Living on shaky ground

“When the next very big earthquake hits, the north- Earthquake risks west edge of the continent, and hazards from California to Canada John Clague, Department of and the continental shelf to Earth Sciences, Simon Fraser the Cascades, will drop by as University, speaks at the much as six feet and rebound Parkgate branch of the North thirty to a hundred feet to the Vancouver District Library on west – losing, within minutes, Wednesday, Oct. 11 at 7 p.m. all the elevation and com- about Earthquake Hazards and pression it has gained over Risks on Canada’s West Coast. centuries. Some of that shift will take place beneath the ocean, displacing a colossal David Yamaguchi and other quantity of seawater. The researchers associated with water will surge upward into the University of Washington. a huge hill, then promptly They determined through collapse. One side will rush analysis of soil deposits in west, toward Japan. The ancient marshes in estuar- other side will rush east, in a ies on the Washington state seven-hundred-mile liquid wall coastline that a cataclysmic that will reach the Northwest earthquake had occurred in coast, on average, 15 minutes the not too distant past. after the earthquake begins. Meticulous Japanese By the time the shaking has tsunami records not only con- ceased and the tsunami has curred with that finding, they receded, the region will be also narrowed it down to the unrecognizable.” day and hour that the ocean – “The Really Big One” wave struck their coastline. by Kathryn Schulz, During the late ’80s and The New Yorker, July 20, 2015 A ghost forest of dead red cedars stands along the banks of the Copalis River in Washington state. The grove is one of the ’90s, SFU professor John clues that led scientists to reassess their understanding of the potential size of earthquakes that can be generated in the Clague worked with a team Cascadia Subduction Zone off the Pacific Northwest Coast. PHOTO: BRIAN ATWATER, 1997, UNITED STATES GEOLOGICAL SURVEY JOHN GOODMAN on the Canadian side of the [email protected] border to confirm the CSZ Cascadia Volcanic Belt, which the whale, and all these from northern California to of what the CSZ is capable of evidence found by his col- Thunderbird meets Killer includes Mount St. Helens. In bones came out of the whale. southern B.C. has changed considerably. leagues in the U.S. and Japan. Whale at the confluence the Squamish language, Black The people saw their rela- Forty times, to be exact, We know the date of the “Brian Atwater stimu- of sea and sky. They do Tusk is called t’ak’t’ak mu’yin tives and started putting all since the last glacial period, last megathrust earthquake lated a lot of interest in this battle, over and over tl’a in7in’a’xe7en – “Landing these bones together, and according to earth scientists. in the CSZ because of a ghost problem,” says Clague. “Prior again as they have for Place of the Thunderbird.” they did some magic and all Nineteen of which were tsunami that hit Japan in the to that there was really very millennia. The Squamish tell of major those bones became people full rupture 9.0 megathrust winter of 1700. Local records little appreciation that we Squamish Nation member disasters and great loss of life again.” earthquakes along the documented widespread get these extraordinarily Latash–Maurice Nahanee connected to earthquakes In the oral traditions of 1,000-kilometre Cascadia damage although at the time large earthquakes. A num- relates the traditional and landslides that have Coast Salish cultures and Subduction Zone, the last of they did not know what had ber of geologists took it stories of his culture to the taken place in the Rubble other Pacific Northwest First which took place on Jan. 26, caused the massive ocean upon themselves to provide Squamish Valley landscape Creek area. Nations, Thunderbird and 1700 at 9 p.m. wave action. additional evidence for this he is intimately familiar with. “The Killer Whale was ter- Killer Whale tales relate spe- Up until recent decades, In the 1990s Japanese earthquake.” Stories about Thunderbird rifying our people by coming cifically and metaphorically no one thought earth- scientists, including Kenji Clague did most of his and Killer Whale he asso- up on the beach and eating to past catastrophic events quakes of such magnitude Satake of the Geological research on Vancouver ciates with Black Tusk all the Squamish people,” even though they are pre- could occur in the Pacific Survey of Japan, were tipped Island, particularly along the mountain, a subduction says Latash. “Thunderbird sented in mythical scenarios. Northwest. But thanks to off to look back in the histori- west coast in Tofino, Ucluelet, zone stratovolcano in the got mad at him and flew They speak of unspeakable research by American, cal records after learning of as well as in Victoria and up Garibaldi Volcanic Belt, the down and captured that things that once took place Japanese and Canadian sci- the work of geologist Brian northernmost segment of the whale and started shaking along the coastal corridor entists, geological knowledge Atwater, endocrinologist See Seismic page 5 SUNDAY, OCTOBER 8, 2017 north shore news nsnews.com NEWS | A5

NEWS MECHANICS SHORTAGE ADDS TO BLUE BUS BLUES 7 OPINION BILL GOOD: WHY I LIKE FIRST PAST THE POST 8 MAILBOX AUTO SHOPS SQUEEZED BY RISING COSTS 9

Seismic microzonation study needs to be done THANKYOU

From page 4

island towards Gold River. “The evidence that we found was that during these earthquakes, the level of the land shifts along our coast and the Washington and Oregon coast,” he says. “The land drops down suddenly during an earthquake and so a very good place to document that geologically is along the shoreline because you record that down- dropping of the surface of the earth in the layering in the coastal sediments that you see in these areas. The Cascadia Subduction Zone stretches from northern “That was really what California to southern B.C. GRAPHIC FEMA Brian Atwater had found was this sudden evidence of earthquakes but they can soils, the sediments that down-dropping. In addition, have sources and epicentres underlie the ground surface.” the bigger quakes – and we’ve very close to our cities. In the Low-lying areas of the seen this in very similar big magnitude 9 earthquakes, Lower Mainland are highly earthquakes over the past the sources are offshore so susceptible to liquefac- 20 years in the Indian Ocean the energy that’s released tion. Loose water-saturated and Japan and Chile – they by that earthquake is huge sediments completely lose produce tsunamis and the but it tends to diminish as their strength when they are tsunamis also leave evidence the earthquake waves move shaken and will behave like in the geologic record in inland from the sea floor.” a liquid. the form of layers of sand Earthquakes occur along “On the North Shore they and gravel that are trans- fault lines. Once you’ve are typically associated with ported landward from the identified the faults that the river deltas where the sea and left in these coastal potentially could slip during rivers come into the sea,” environments.” an earthquake, then you says Clague. “The Capilano Clague will go into detail know where the source is. river delta down near the about his research work at “The waves that produce Lions Gate Bridge, the mouth the Parkgate branch of the damage radiate out from of the Seymour River, parts North Vancouver District the source,” says Clague. of the industrial area that lie Library next Wednesday, “When you think about along the shoreline are all on Oct. 11 at 7 p.m. in a talk Richmond, the North Shore of liquefiable soils.” entitled “Earthquake Hazards Vancouver, Burnaby, they are Newer buildings are gen- and Risks on Canada’s West not going to be significantly erally designed to minimize Coast.” different in terms of distance the impact of liquefaction, While the CSZ danger is from the epicentre. What but buried gas lines, fibre real and will eventually hap- does differ is the intensity optic cables, sewer lines and pen, Clague says the risk of of shaking caused by our water lines are an entirely more frequent, magnitude 6 local geology and our local different level of problem and 7 crustal earthquakes, is topography. There are places when considering the effects even greater than that of the in Metro Vancouver that are of ground shaking. much larger, but rarer magni- going to experience higher “You cannot prepare tude 9 events. levels of ground shaking than the soils to deal with that “The public doesn’t fully others.” linear infrastructure over appreciate the biggest ones Determining the effects large areas,” says Clague. are not the biggest problem of an earthquake on different “That would be damaged On October 1, Seaspan Shipyards welcomed more in my mind,” says Clague. areas of the Lower Mainland by liquefaction during an “They are very rare and only would be greatly enhanced earthquake. We really need than 3300 people to our Open House. occur on average every 500 by a seismic microzonation to try to improve our critical or 600 years. If one does study, says Clague. It’s some- infrastructure and I con- occur it’s big trouble, but thing that has been done in sider buried utilities critical As Canada's Non-Combat Shipbuilder,weare proud because they are so rare the Victoria and Seattle but not infrastructure. risk is actually lower than the Vancouver. “Seismic microzonation to call North Vancouver home. average person might expect “I think that’s almost crim- is baseline documentation. It it would be.” inal that it hasn’t been done,” won’t tell you when an earth- Recent earthquakes, says Clague. “When you look quake will occur or how big like those that hit Mexico at the potential damage from it will be, but it will show us City in the summer and an earthquake to a city of the difference in the intensity Christchurch, New Zealand, over two million people, we of shaking within the Metro in 2011, pose far greater risks need to know how different Vancouver area. And that’s to urban populations, accord- the shaking is going to be in maybe $100,000 to $300,000 www.seaspan.com ing to Clague. different parts of the city. It’s investment. It sounds like a “These are much smaller controlled by the subsurface lot, but it isn’t really.” Lynn Headwaters access road to be accessible in October http://www.nsnews.com/lifestyle/lynn-headwaters-access-road-to-be-accessible-in-october-1.23000844 Landslide risk has kept lane closed 10 months

Jeremy Shepherd / North Shore News

September 25, 2017 08:54 AM

The access road into Lynn Headwaters Park, a popular recreation area, remains closed as workers finish paving, installing guard rails and securing the unstable slope. photo Mike Wakefield, North Shore News

It’ll be two months later than planned, but the Lynn Headwaters Park intake road should be ready to take on traffic in early October, according to District of North Vancouver spokeswoman Stephanie Smiley.

The road – as well as 175 parking spots – were set to open in mid-August but rain delayed some of the work, Smiley noted.

“We expect to be able to open Intake Road in early October (weather permitting),” she wrote in an email.

Parking limits on Dempsey, Lynn Valley and Kilmer roads as well as Underwood Avenue are expected to stay in place as work crews pave the road and install new guard rails.

The district closed the road on Dec. 1, 2016 over fears of a landslide after a geotechnical analysis discovered an unstable sub-surface.

Built in the 1990s, the road was buttressed with fill that doesn’t meet modern standards, according to the district’s manager of public safety. Swapping out the fill was projected to cost $2 million. However, the district decided to secure the slope by anchoring slender, hollow nails in the ground, similar to adding rebar to concrete. The projected cost of the project was $700,000. Meet the people who choose to live inside their vehicles Life on four wheels has its challenges, but it can also mean freedom

Maria Spitale-Leisk / North Shore News

October 15, 2017 08:30 AM

RV life ambassador Justin Credible poses with his purple ride and full-time home parked on a North Vancouver side street. photo Mike Wakefield, North Shore News The housing crisis in the Lower Mainland has hit many people hard, but for some, life on the streets means freedom. On any given night on the North Shore, there are people who comfortably live on the side of the road in an RV. It’s a lifestyle choice for a handful of these so-called boondockers who have been at this for decades and say they plan to die in their RVs. These are the stories of people on the North Shore who found themselves living on four wheels, and have no plans to stop rolling any time soon. Carefree and comfy A young woman wearing pyjamas watches the sun set over the mountains. She’s curled up by a window on a school bus that has been parked on this roadside for close to a month. She’s clutching a tin camping mug and contemplating what adventure tomorrow will bring. Painted beneath the window on the outside of the bus is the word Ouest, which is French for “west.” In June, Yanael Prat-Samuel and her boyfriend Laurence Ricard-Lacombe, 23 and 25 respectively, left their hometown of Shawinigan, Que., driving away in a rather unconventional vehicle for a road trip across the country. The couple found a big yellow school bus for sale, forked over $4,000, gave it a major facelift and soon were on their way. “We just want to travel,” says Prat-Samuel. “It was the perfect time in our lives before having a house, children and big responsibilities.” The golden wheat fields of the Prairies morphed into the peaks of the Rocky Mountains as the bus rolled through the provinces. Parking the school bus was never an issue in rural Canadian towns, but when the couple arrived in North Vancouver in August, it was a different story. There are few areas on the North Shore with relaxed parking regulations. The couple found this place by chance. Walmart is their go-to store for stocking up, and that’s where they noticed a collection of RVs parked on the south side of Capilano Mall. “We see a lot of RVs and we just say, ‘It’s OK to park,” says Ricard-Lacombe, with a charming French- Canadian accent. This area is home base. In the morning the couple lounges around the bus eating breakfast, while nearby office workers hurriedly rush by below the window. Later on they will lock up the bus, hop in a Car2Go parked a couple steps away and head over the Lions Gate Bridge to explore the big city. The News was invited on the bus to see how Prat-Samuel and Ricard-Lacombe live while on the road. The savvy duo stripped out endless rows of bench seats until they had a blank canvas to build their new home. There’s a separated bedroom in the back with curtains on the windows and a chest of drawers at the foot of the bed. Midway up the aisle is the kitchen area with a sink and countertop, along with a stove and oven fuelled by propane. Some nights the couple will make pizza from scratch. Up front, a pair of rainbow upholstered benches on either side of the aisle offer ample seating. All-in-all, the couple put $8,000 worth of upgrades into the bus, which they painted burgundy and white with black stripes. And voila, a home on four wheels. Quebec natives Laurence Ricard- Lacombe and Yanael Prat-Samuel spent $8,000 converting a school bus into a home. - photo Cindy Goodman, North Shore News There is one modern convenience the two are missing on the bus. “A toilet,” says Prat-Samuel, without hesitation. The outdoor enthusiasts don’t spend much time in the bus, just to eat and sleep. Saving up before they left, the couple’s monthly expenses on the road total $2,000 for gas, food, and other living costs. The couple have followed the warm weather since June. But with October comes a chill in the air. Soon the couple will pull out of North Van and head south in search of palm trees and blue skies in California. Pinned on a board above the driver’s seat are overlapping pictures of family and friends back home. Would they recommend this lifestyle to one of them? “Oh yes, for sure,” says Prat-Samuel. “Because you are free.”

Boondockers for life It’s nearing 6 p.m., shuffle time in this cobbled together RV community behind Capilano Mall. “Round the mulberry bush.” That’s what Garnet Dean calls it. The coveralls-clad octogenarian has been at this same routine since 2003, when he first parked his RV and full- time home in the area. Around 6 p.m. is when most people working in the area leave and parking spots open up. Dean employs the buddy system for snagging a spot. After he drives out, Dean’s friend John immediately pulls his motorhome forward into that spot. Dean then finishes the daily jigsaw game by parking behind his friend. The boondockers, as they’re called, move one full vehicle length every day to stay in the bylaw officers’ good books. In a stroke of serendipity Dean met John, who arrived in the area with a 31-foot RV identical in size to his and with much more to offer. Dean recently finished treatment for prostate and colon cancer – all while living in the RV by himself. The coveralls conceal his colostomy bag. One day Dean was crouched down by his RV, struggling to fix the generator, which affords a comfortable life off the grid. Less than a day later the fridge broke and Dean had to throw all his food away. “He was almost crying. He was so distraught,” says John of the day he first met Dean. John (an alias to protect his identity) was himself in dire straits when he pulled into the neighbourhood. Marital woes forced him to move from the nearby family home and into a rundown RV, because that’s all he could afford. “It was the coldest I’ve ever been,” says John. “I went and got a dog because I needed companionship and had no one to talk to.” Fortunately, he found Dean and the two men look out for each other. While there is a generational gap – John is middle-aged – the friends bonded over their love of country music and their background in mechanics. During the day, while John’s at work, Dean goes about his regular daily routine. He heads to Lonsdale Quay, buys a paper and a cup of coffee and passes the time until noon. Once he’s had his fill of that, Dean hops on the SeaBus, then the Canada Line and rides the train until he reaches the airport. “I used to fly when I was younger,” says the air force vet. “I’ll go out there (to YVR) and see all these birds coming and going. There’s always somebody to talk to.” But Dean always keeps an eye on the clock, to make it home in time for motorhome musical chairs at 6 p.m. Later he will have dinner or dessert with John in one of the adjoining RVs. It’s a couple days before Thanksgiving when the News meets John and Dean in the latter’s RV. A can of pumpkin puree sits by the sink. The friends are getting all the fixings together for a Thanksgiving dinner, including turkey,and pumpkin pie à la mode. Dean’s eyes light up when asked about an American flag and companion trucker cap adorned with a bald eagle, displayed prominently above the kitchen table, next to a large clock. “Wait until (John) hears this one,” says Dean, his infectious laugh erupting. One of the American souvenirs is a gift from a woman Dean met in the Mojave Desert. He tried to bring the woman back across the border, until he learned she had no passport and had never left California. Dean has lived many lives, and John is more than happy to hear the stories. “Every day is something new,” says John, smiling. “I guarantee you if you sit here for four or five hours, you don’t need a TV.” Last Thanksgiving John had a house, something he thought he needed to survive. His perspective has since shifted: You pare down your possessions to what you absolutely need and you learn to live with less and be happy. “Well, you know, we’re not really homeless,” says John. “It’s just an alternative way of living.” The area was packed bumper to bumper with RVs in the summer, those that remain are mostly locals. Eight of them, estimates Dean. Both men say they expect to see more RVs showing up on this side street in the coming months, as Metro Vancouver’s affordable housing crisis shows no sign of slowing down. They all come here with different stories. Dean talked to a young tradesman from Australia who was working at Seaspan and living in his vehicle. Another tradesman used his skills to convert a U-Haul-type truck into a home. He carved out windows, built cabinets inside and put in a king-size bed. Then there’s the older man living in a plumber’s van. Those in the Capilano Mall neighbourhood recognize him by his captain’s hat. Dean will sit outside the RV in his rocking chair and make conversation with strangers. A transistor radio stays on all night to keep Dean company in the RV. This is where he wants to live out the rest of his life. “I probably will, because you know what: It’s no secret that I can’t afford $1,100 a month for a bachelor suite,” says Dean, adamantly. “Take this away from me and I’ll be sleeping under that bush.” Maintenance and fuel costs this time of year are about $300 a month. Both John and Dean’s RVs are set up on solar power systems. There’s also a backup generator for the rainy days. On this gloomy Friday morning, Dean has put on a fresh pot of coffee. A plate of cookies is already on the kitchen table. Dean is set to regale his friend with a tale from another life. “I’m happy with this life,” says John. In a few short months, the two men have saved each other on this street. John introduced Dean to solar energy and in turn his friend taught him how to live a humble life.

Where the streets have no name Justin Credible is a colourful ambassador for RV life. An early off-the-grid adopter, Justin goes out of his way to get people’s attention and promote the lifestyle, using his penchant for purple. Sporting sunglasses, a large chain and a fedora, Justin pokes his head out of his purple RV. A classic U2 song emanates from the surround sound system inside the cosy motorhome. Hard to ignore are the purple zebra print accents, including sheets, curtains and seat covers, splashed throughout the RV. There’s even a purple air freshener. His purple game is on point. “It was ugly off-white with horrible ugly RV stripes down the side,” says Justin, who has the voice of a radio announcer. He just turned 37, but considers himself a pioneer for how to live happily on the cheap. “It is kind of about the economics but I was doing this before the rental crisis. I’ve been doing this for 17 years,” says the seasoned vagabond. Justin thrives on not having an address and being able to pick up at a moment’s notice and go. He parks his purple home on wheels in North Vancouver, where he works full time as a delivery man. But when the weekend hits, the outdoor enthusiast heads out of town. He feels satisfaction in taking off for Tofino or Whistler with some extra change in his pocket for gas, ferry tolls and recreational activities. “That’s the beauty of this lifestyle is you don’t have a set cost,” says Justin. “You can live on a few hundred dollars a month or quite often I’ll spend more than the average Vancouverite does on rent, but that’s because I’m doing fun things.” Justin hosts Camper-Cons and has a social media presence, answering questions on his website and offering resources for newbie RV dwellers. “No mortgage, no yard work, no stress. Life on wheels is fantastic” reads Justin’s bio on his YouTube channel, JustinCredibleTV, which has amassed 30,161 subscribers and 6,027,529 views to date. Justin’s audience is a mixed bag of people who are already RVing and those who want to. He’s heard from people who have sold their house or apartment, put stuff in storage and moved into a motorhome. “And I’ve never had anyone tell me they regret it,” he says. William Price wasn’t a fan of apartment life, so now he lives in an RV on the street just down the block from his workplace. He says he has no interest in moving. - photo Mike Wakefield, North Shore News William Price, a friend of Justin’s in the RV community, is someone who has no regrets. The 46-year-old has lived for six years in an RV parked a few steps from Walmart, where he works as a stockman. Apartment life doesn’t suit Price. It’s unaffordable, he says, plus there are too many rules. At the moment, he’s stringing up Halloween lights, bats and other spooky decorations around his RV, which he purchased for $700. He picks up a free Wi-Fi signal from a nearby store and 13 TV channels from an antenna atop his roof. Food is his big expense out here. Price spends about $300 every two weeks because he likes to eat. He’s about to put a “pound of bacon” on the mountain of tin-foiled potatoes sitting near his stove. Pieces of an old Christmas train sit in stacked boxes, tied against the wall with yellow tape to prevent shifting. “It was my dad’s,” explains Price. “I don’t really want to part with it but I don’t really need anything that’s 110 volts.” How long does Price see himself living like this? “The rest of my life,” he says. Justin was asked through his website if RV life cramps his style when it comes to dating. His response: “I’ve never met a girl who didn’t immediately love it, and in fact have had many live-in relationships over the years, and even dated a girl who had her own camper van for quite a while. It’s been fantastic.” When asked what he would do if someone handed him a house, the choice is clear for Justin. “I’ll rent the damn thing out,” he says. “As long as there’s a parking spot in the driveway for my van, I’m happy.”

Metro Vancouver urges residents to put grease in green bins | Vancouve... http://vancouversun.com/news/local-news/gravy-training-metro-vanco...

(HTTP://VANCOUVERSUN.COM/AUTHOR/NICKEAGLANDPROV)

1 of 4 10/9/2017 6:00 PM Metro Vancouver urges residents to put grease in green bins | Vancouve... http://vancouversun.com/news/local-news/gravy-training-metro-vanco...

2 of 4 10/9/2017 6:00 PM SUNDAY, OCTOBER 1, 2017 north shore news nsnews.com NEWS | A5

NEWS CRASH CLEARING SLOWS 7 OPINION SPORTS STICKS TO POLITICS 8 MAILBOX UNLEASH FIDO 9

Mobility Pricing Policy Needed for Region

Greater Vancouver's unique geography adds to the cost, and impacts the efficiency of moving people and goods around the region. Unlike Toronto or LA, we are surrounded by water and mountains. And, while our regional commuting patterns are similar to those of LA, in that people travel in virtually every direction all day, our need for bridges and tunnels create costs and bottlenecks.

In Metro Vancouver there are 22 local governments, each with its own Official Community Plan governing land use and growth management, and each ofthose plans is harmonized with the goals and policies of the region's plan. Transit planning, however, is overseen by TransLink, an independent entity. Although Metro Vancouver and TransLink are required to work closely by legislation, and most often do, the highways and most ofthe regional bridges are owned and operated by the Province of B.C. So, we have 25 different organizations all tryingto manage or influence (either by action or policy)some aspect of transportation in the lower mainland.

This complexity creates barriers to effective planning and deployment of public funds. Although the Province has delegated much of its interest in regional land and transit projects that require large amounts offunding, it Const. Jeff Palmer gets a last look at the abandoned offices in the old West Vancouver Police often requires collaboration from all four levels ofgovernment to make these Department building at 13th Street and Marine Drive in Ambleside. PHOTOS MIKE WAKEFIELD projectsa reality. Layer on the political needs of different parties and election cycles, and attempting any sort of is a challenge at best, and impossible at New police building less dreary, worst. A recent example of this was the proposed $3.5 billion Massey Bridge more earthquake resistant initiative, which has since been postponed by the new government in Victoria. It was never part of Metro Vancouver's Regional Plan, which all of the municipalities had helped develop. This left the federal government in a From page 4 difficult political position trying to assess whether to contributefunding for a main atrium, Goerke said. project most local governments did not support. “What the public will Fragmented planning can cause unintended impacts on traffic as well. In the mostly see is that, hopefully, recent provincial election campaign, both major parties committed to it’s a little bit more of a com- eliminate existing bridge tolls on the Port Mann and Golden Ears crossings, fortable space to be in and a and on September 1 tolls were removed. TransLink's preliminary modelling little bit less institutional than suggested that removal of bridge tolls on Fraser River crossings would again the old space and a little bit increase congestion and travel times for vehicles and transit, and increase more welcoming,” he said. commute times by an average of 70 minutes each week. Actual September Both inside and outside, 23 the 16th Street building is results show a per cent traffic increase already on the Port Mann Bridge. still looking like a construc- We are waiting to learn the impact this has on North Shore-bound traffic tion site. In fact, if you were though the Cassiar Tunnel and onto the Ironworkers Memorial Bridge. Why to get booked this week, you would removing tolls on Fraser crossings affect the North Shore bridges? might be able to slip away This is a great example of the knock-on effects of a policy change that has undetected if you happen to not been well thought-out. be wearing a hard hat and Chief Const. Len Goerke gets finger-printed in the booking When the Port Mann opened to full capacity traffic four years ago (even with reflective vest. But it is a fully area of the new police station. operational police station. a toll), morning northbound traffic across the Ironworkers' Memorial (no toll) The original building isn’t spiked upward because drivers could get to the North Shore more effiCiently. long for this world. Developer The perceived shorter commute time, even with tolls factored in, contributed Grosvenor has already to the increase in flow to the North Shore, and the morning rush northbound applied for the demolition on the Ironworkers' now exceeds the southbound traffic of people who live permit, according to district on the North Shore heading to work. staff, and it will eventually be To better manage transportation we need better coordinated planning for home to part of the six-storey, the movement ofboth goods and people. Projects competing for public 96-unit condo building. The district is being resources must be advanced with transparent business cases. And all large capital projects should demonstrateclear contribution to the regional compensated with $37 million of for the land, plus community movement traffic, not the benefit of one community. amenity contributions, which Eliminating tolls and encouraging people to get back into their cars will not will go toward developing solve our local concerns any more than curtailing the development ofnew affordable housing. housing on the North Shore. Those ideas are retrograde and contrary to The $36-million police creating more compact and less car dependent cities, which is the only way building will be finished The West Vancouver Police Department fleet now has a parking garage capable of withstanding an earthquake. we can provide a healthy future. Bridge congestion is largely caused by roughly on time and on people travelling from home to work between communities. We want budget. people to both live and work on the North Shore, our businesses want to Mayor Mike Smith remem- deal approved. That was a and it provides municipal hall grow and hire more workers, and building more affordable housing will help bers well the protracted fight long dance,” he said. “But space to house people we to solve this problem. to get the Grosvenor project now, I think people are start- currently have scattered all and new police building ing to realize it was worth over the municipality. We’ll approved but, he said, “We the effort because the police be a lot more efficient in our now have a first-class building building is a great space, own operations and so will DISTRICT OF for a first-class police force.” which they badly needed. The the police department. It’s NORTH [email protected] “I’ve still got a few scars old one was falling apart. The certainly a good news story VANCOUVER from getting that Grosvenor new one is state of the art ... for our taxpayers.” dnv.orglmayor SUNDAY, OCTOBER 8, 2017 north shore news nsnews.com | A13

neighbourhoods Capilano/Edgemont Natural playground spurs outdoor learning

small wooden houses, a Kids benefit raised outdoor kitchen area – where youth can gather from nature material from the environment and pretend to cook – and a number of boulders in early ed and planter boxes, among other additions. BEN BENGTSON While a natural playground [email protected] might seem a far cry from the monkey gyms of yore, Hamel Some happy preschoolers says a natural playground and are busy in the kitchen outdoor classroom can allow dishing up mud pies by for more open-ended play that the dozen. enhances creativity and helps They’re working quickly, kids develop crucial empathy gathering material around skills. themselves to make the “Once the children get dishes, perhaps delivering the outside we notice that they’re faux food to one of the small a lot more engaged in nature. wooden houses that litter the It gives them the ability to play area where their friends explore, to be creative, to ask and peers are waiting with questions,” she says. glee. Perhaps most crucial from It’s smiles all around. an education standpoint is the The kids are at “work,” but preschool’s new outdoor per- really they’re engaged in the gola, an undercover staging ancient art of play. area in the new playground. On the surface, it might Preschooler Emmett Kerr plays in part of the newly opened natural playground and learning space at Highlands Preschool in “The great part about that look like any preschooler’s Edgemont Village. PHOTO KEVIN HILL is we use it as an outdoor inevitable foray into roleplay- classroom,” Hamel explains. ing House or Kitchen, a zone learning outcomes. trend around having a lot and bring the outdoors into climber-type playground that, “We can bring books outside where essential socialization It’s not the average, nonde- more natural material in the the classroom. while functional, lacked verve. for the children to play with, skills are developed and script playground you likely environment,” says Highlands For the past year, “There really wasn’t a lot we can do circle time out new friends and memories grew up on. executive director Christine Highlands’ board of directors, of natural environment for the there, we can do a music class are hard-won over moments That, at least, is the Hamel. “Children aren’t getting teachers, and families have children to engage in,” she out there, we can bring out shared. message Edgemont Village’s out into forests as much to go been busy planning and fund- says. large blocks for the children But then you realize the Highlands Preschool is and explore, don’t have access raising for the project, which Now, appropriately aged to play with.” action’s taking place outside, excited to share since its new to natural material as much as held its offi cial ribbon cutting Highlands preschoolers While the new playground in a natural, curated environ- natural playground and learn- what they used to when, let’s for the new space Sept. 14. can enjoy the new natural has been a major addition ment that only adds to the ing space opened last month. say, we were growing up.” Hamel describes the playground, which features to Highlands, which has youths’ sense of wonder, “In early childhood The solution, Hamel says, preschool’s previous play- a mulch playground, balance exploration and overall right now there’s a very big is to bring playtime outside ground as a more standard, beam log, sand riverbed, See Local page 16

Certiﬁed Family Mediators

MOULES -FRITESSPECIAL $26 Nowuntil theend of October -Lunch +Dinner, 1lb. of mussels w/pommes frites Michel’s: Tomatoes,onions, whitewine, garlic andcream. SpicyTomato: Garlic,tomatosauce, harissa andolive oil.

Blue Cheese: Whitewine, shallots,cream JANNEKE SHEILAGH BETTY andparsley. LEWIS SPARKS LIN Thai: Coconut, redthaicurry, cilantro andlime. Marinière: Whitewine, shallots,butter Be part of your solution andparsley. Chorizo: Tomato sauce, spicychorizo,white wine andbasil. SaffronPernod: Fennel,garlicbutter, basil, whitewineand cream. 1373 Marine Drive(Second Floor) West Vancouver (604)926-4913 6th Floor,171 W. Esplanade, North Vancouver OPEN TUESDAY-SATURDAY 604.980.8571 • northshorelaw.com A16 | NEIGHBOURHOODS nsnews.com north shore news SUNDAY, OCTOBER 8, 2017 Reconciliation goal of Norgate exercise

Teachers, adminis- to Canada’s Indigenous and trators and teaching non-Indigenous people. DARYL assistants had the oppor- “The impact is emotional PHARMACIST tunity to gain a stronger because it makes them think understanding of the about themselves and if Aboriginal world view they were living at that time during a Blanket Exercise what their family would go It’sthe time of last Wednesday, accord- through,” Baker said. the year to start ing to North Vancouver Forty-five district edu- thinking about District principal Brad cators participated in the flu shots again. Baker. exercise that gets people role- “We ask each participant playing as Aboriginal people However,domore to bring a blanket that means in order to generate empathy than think about something to them, and we for their experiences. it. Get it done this place the blankets on the “The ultimate goal is for year.Remember floor of where we’re doing every school to do it,” Baker all the truths about it to represent what we call said. Turtle Island, which is known Like many North Shore flu shots: you can’t as North America,” explained schools, Norgate students get the flu from it; Baker, who also oversees and staff also participated in side effects are the district’s Aboriginal Orange Shirt Day last week, Above: Teachers and administrators participated in a Blanket Exercise at Norgate Elementary very rare; getting Education program. an event aimed at acknowl- last Wednesday, a teaching tool used to share and showcase the historic and contemporary the flu is not like The exercise runs partici- edging the damage wrought relationship between Indigenous and non-Indigenous people in Canada. PHOTO PAUL MCGRATH getting acold. It’s pants through pre-contact, by Canada’s residential Below: Norgate classmates Liam Bond and Aqualina Broomfield plant in front of a carving colonization, and the effects school system. created by Broomfield’s father, Jody, celebrating the area’s Squamish Nation history, during much moreserious of colonization with regards –Ben Bengtson Orange Shirt Day, which was celebrated by the school Oct. 2. PHOTO MIKE WAKEFIELD and thousands die each year from the virus. By the way, Local park used in programs pregnant ladies should get the flu From page 13 nearby Murdo Frazer Park to emulate that experience shot too. into its programming in order in-house. 10 preschool classes and to make outdoor schooling “We have adapted that,” services about 150 families on one of its focuses. Every she says. “We wanted to bring the North Shore, the sudden Tuesday, Hamel explains, a that learning the children get Pharmacy outdoor focus hasn’t actually group of children walk down from spending two and a half 1401 St.Georges Ave. come about all that suddenly, to the park with teachers and hours out in a forest. We really NORTH VANCOUVER Hamel says. explore the forest together. wanted to try and mimic that 604-985-1481 www.daviesrx.com Two years ago the The preschool’s new out in our playground space SINCE 1973 preschool incorporated the playground is their chance as best we could.” DENTURE WEARERS!

COME IN AND RECEIVE A COMPLIMENTARYCONSULTATION AND DENTURE CARE PACKAGE FREE! Why Go Far? Support your local Denturist on the North Shore Brent Der R.D. Proudly renovatingwith: NORTH VANCOUVER

Customkitchen,bathroom&home DENTURE CLINIC renovations from designto completion. 604-986-8515 Located at 123East 1st Street, North Vancouver 231 Lonsdale Avenue,North Vancouver 604-985-9128 CoordinatedKitchens.com Home and Institutional Care Available A16 | NEIGHBOURHOODS nsnews.com north shore news SUNDAY, OCTOBER 8, 2017 Reconciliation goal of Norgate exercise

COME IN AND RECEIVE A COMPLIMENTARYCONSULTATION AND DENTURE CARE PACKAGE FREE! Why Go Far? Support your local Denturist on the North Shore Brent Der R.D. Proudly renovatingwith: NORTH VANCOUVER

Customkitchen,bathroom&home DENTURE CLINIC renovations from designto completion. 604-986-8515 Located at 123East 1st Street, North Vancouver 231 Lonsdale Avenue,North Vancouver 604-985-9128 CoordinatedKitchens.com Home and Institutional Care Available New measures on the way to cut down traffic congestion in Toronto - ... http://globalnews.ca/news/3752094/new-measures-traffic-congestion-t...

Traffic September 18, 2017 6:26 am

By David Shum Web Producer Global News

New measures were announced by Mayor John Tory on Sept. 18, 2017 to help curb traffic congestion in Toronto.

FILE/Global News

Mayor John Tory‘s long-term plan to curb traffic congestion in Toronto is getting yet another boost with the addition of several new measures that will come into effect later this fall and in the new year.

The new initiatives include establishing “quick-clear squads” dedicated to fixing problems caused by temporary lane blockages on major city roadways.

“These are rapid response teams that will monitor lanes along key downtown Toronto corridors and make sure that they are not blocked. A second quick clear squad will be dedicated to the Gardiner Expressway and Don Valley Parkway,” Tory told reporters during a press conference on Monday.

“We’ll have these two squads that will be watching cars that are blocking these lanes, often times because of a collisions or stalled cars, and get them out of there so they don’t block traffic.”

1 of 3 9/18/2017 4:40 PM New measures on the way to cut down traffic congestion in Toronto - ... http://globalnews.ca/news/3752094/new-measures-traffic-congestion-t...

READ MORE: Toronto police launch rush hour traffic and parking enforcement blitz

Another measure moving forward will be to have full-time traffic wardens at key intersections to help reduce gridlock. The initiative comes after the city conducted a pilot project earlier this year with paid-duty police officers.

“We hired paid duty officers to go to key intersections where there have been bottlenecks, both for pedestrians and drivers, and we asked them to be there and take an active role,” Tory said.

“When officers were actively engaged managing vehicles and pedestrians we found a minimum of 90 per cent reduction of intersection blockage by vehicles and a 70 per cent reduction in intersection blockage by pedestrians.”

Tory said the full-time traffic wardens will not be police officers but hired staff employed by the municipality.

“Thanks to the cooperation of the Government of Ontario, which is about to make a regulatory change, we will be in a position to have under the Highway Traffic Act, legally deploy people who are not police officers,” he said.

READ MORE: Toronto police deployed at congested intersections to help ease traffic flow

Tory said both the quick-clear squads and traffic wardens will be in place by early 2018.

Other measures to tackle gridlock include having utility companies schedule non-emergency work to occur during off-peak hours from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. to limit traffic disruption, sharing data with the traffic app Waze, installing “smart signals” that will monitor traffic in real-time, and finally consider the possibility of increasing fines for traffic blocking offences.

“I am going to keep at this traffic issue every day that I hold this office. We’re going to keep bringing new measures in to try to move this city better,” Tory said.

“I have an absolute determination to do that and I think we’re chipping away at it.”

2 of 3 9/18/2017 4:40 PM New measures on the way to cut down traffic congestion in Toronto - ... http://globalnews.ca/news/3752094/new-measures-traffic-congestion-t...

John Tory @JohnTory 10h Launching next phase of the City's Traffic Plan. Below is a list of new initiatives we are launching. I'm determined to #getTOmoving. pic.twitter.com/YdWSrAeE7i

John Tory Follow @JohnTory

We owe it to drivers, cyclists, pedestrians and transit riders to make sure our city moves in best way possible. #getTOmoving. pic.twitter.com/Y5QiZXMcPr 5:53 AM - Sep 18, 2017

81431

John Tory @JohnTory 10h Replying to @JohnTory and 4 others Since becoming mayor, I've taken 12+ steps to improve congestion. From speeding up road construction to cracking down on lane blockers.

John Tory Follow @JohnTory

Problem won’t be solved overnight, but in last 3 years, we're finally fighting gridlock & focusing on improving commute times for all. 6:05 AM - Sep 18, 2017

5316

3 of 3 9/18/2017 4:40 PM North Shore homeless numbers much higher than thought: report http://www.nsnews.com/news/north-shore-homeless-numbers-much-h...

Brent Richter / North Shore News

September 28, 2017 07:00 PM

“Big Al” Mattson and Phil Hopkins take in some of the last warm weather of the year outside the bottle depot on Brooksbank Avenue with their friend’s pit bull Debo. A new report has found the North Shore has a much higher homeless population than previously thought. photo Mike Wakefield, North Shore News

Volunteers counted 100 people “living rough” on the North Shore in this year’s Metro Vancouver homeless count but in actuality, you’d have to septuple that number to find the real homeless population.

The North Shore Homelessness Task Force published a report this week finding 736 unique individuals registered for services reserved for the homeless on the North Shore over the course of 2016. The study found another 295 individuals who were at imminent risk homelessness.

The task force, which includes Hollyburn Family Services Society, Lookout Housing and Health Society, Vancouver Coastal Health, Canadian Mental Health Association, the Squamish Nation, North Shore Crisis Services Society, the BC Non-Profit Housing Association, and three local governments, was moved to do the study after seeing the historic low number of homeless people captured by Metro’s count released in the spring.

“We don’t believe that homelessness is going down on the North Shore. All of us service providers on the ground are seeing more people, not less,” said Leya Eguchi, the report’s author. “That kind of alarmed us. That’s not our reality.”

In fact, 736 is probably a conservative estimate as it doesn’t include anyone who registered for services in previous years but are still living here without proper housing.

Eguchi said she was particularly disturbed to see 37 children under 18 included in the task force study. And slightly over half of the women at risk of homelessness reported being victims of domestic violence.

Phil Hopkins, 40, is among those who just recently became homeless. He’s been sleeping outside for the last four months since he was laid off from his $24-an-hour job building doors.

1 of 3 10/1/2017 8:00 PM North Shore homeless numbers much higher than thought: report http://www.nsnews.com/news/north-shore-homeless-numbers-much-h...

“I may not look like it, I may not dress like it but I am homeless,” he said outside the bottle depot on Brooksbank Avenue.

Looking for a new apartment or shared accommodations has been stressful, Hopkins said. Even if you can find a place within your budget, it’s impossible to come up with first and last month’s rent plus a security deposit while taking care of other bills and keeping yourself fed, he said.

“It’s going to get cold out here pretty quick, so I’m going to have to figure something out,” he said.

But Hopkins, like many people without a place to stay, said he won’t go to the Lookout Society’s North Shore shelter.

“Why would you want to go somewhere you don’t like? I can dress warmer than that. I can find food. I’ll survive.”

Hank Brennan has also noticed things changing for the worse. For almost a decade, the founder of Hank’s Christmas Glitter has been collecting thousands of bottles and cans a month, which he returns for refunds. He spends upwards of $24,000 a year on gift cards, which he distributes to people in need from his minivan, decked out in Christmas decor.

“Since I started this nine years ago, it’s probably doubled from what I can see,” he said noting there are more and more new faces all the time.

The common theme in the stories he gets from the people he meets: the high cost of housing.

“Mostly, it’s the rent,” he said.

The lack of affordable housing is not news to “Big Al” Mattson, who has been in and out of housing for the last 17 years. It’s been six and a half years since he last had an apartment. His roommate split in the middle of the night and he couldn’t afford to keep the place on his own.

“I got myself a tent and lived in there. Ever since, I’ve been living wherever I can,” he said.

Mattson now requires a wheelchair to get around and is unable to work. Many of the people bedding down each night in the bush or under bridges are totally reliant on the $706 a month they get in social assistance and disability payments, he added.

“We’re homeless but we’re not a bunch of bums,” he said.

The newly elected NDP government in Victoria recently upped the amount people on social assistance and disability but a lot more needs to be done, Eguchi said,

“I would challenge anyone on the North Shore to be able to live $706 a month to pay for rent and food and transportation and whatever else. It’s still really tough,” she said.

Eguchi said the report is intended to spark action from all three levels of government who may have been under the false impression that homelessness is more of a downtown problem.

“Right now there’s more interest federally and provincially in building more social and affordable housing. And historically, the North Shore has not been seen as a priority. There’s this impression that we’re more affluent and therefore don’t need as many social resources,” she said. “We don’t want to be overshadowed and bypassed.”

The same message should be heard by the municipalities, which can put up land for affordable housing, or incent developers to build more through density bonusing, Eguchi said.

“With political will, this is a solvable problem,” she said.

2 of 3 10/1/2017 8:00 PM North Vancouver MLA Ma warns of rental hikes that flout tenants’ rights

Jane Seyd / North Shore News

October 13, 2017 09:14 AM

NDP MLA Bowinn Ma, pictured here campaigning outside the North Vancouver SeaBus terminal during the election, is warning against illegal rent hikes. file photo Mike Wakefield, North Shore News

North Vancouver MLA Bowinn Ma says her office is trying to help with a disturbing trend of landlords trying to threaten long-term tenants into accepting large rent increases.

Ma said a number of tenants have approached her office recently after being asked to sign new leases – at an increased rent – or face the prospect of the landlord asking for an even higher amount at a residential tenancy hearing.

“Oftentimes these increases are quite substantial. Far above and beyond the current rent control provisions,” said Ma.

Ma said that, unfortunately, many tenants are so afraid they could end up in an even worse situation that they sign the lease offered for a higher rent.

Similar scenarios are happening throughout the Lower Mainland, she added. Ma said she’s been working with West End NDP MLA colleague Spencer Chandra Herbert on the issue.

“He has numerous examples of exactly the same situation,” she said.

Under residential tenancy law in B.C., landlords can increase the rent for continuing tenants only by a set amount each year (usually the rate of inflation plus two per cent.) Rents can only be increased by 3.7 per cent in 2017, for instance, and by 4 per cent next year.

But since 2012, landlords have also been allowed to apply for bigger increases in special circumstances, including a situation in which the rent is significantly lower than rents paid for similar units in the same area.

Ma says what a lot of tenants don’t know is that relatively few of those applications are approved. “It’s only been done maybe a handful of times,” she said. But for most tenants, even the threat is enough to make them sign a new lease without asking questions.

In one North Vancouver case, the landlord of an apartment building went to every existing tenant and asked them to negotiate a 15 to 20 per cent rent increase or face an application for a larger rent hike, said Ma.

“The majority of tenants who received this notice signed a new lease,” she said. “Once they have signed, there’s virtually no recourse.”

Those who didn’t sign were served notice that the landlord will apply to the residential tenancy office for a 44 per cent increase.

“It doesn’t really matter how much your income is,” said Ma. “Very, very few people are able to absorb a 44 per cent rent increase all of a sudden from one month to the next.”

Ma said the problem is especially dire for long-term tenants who have low household incomes and are unable to find other places to live. “For a lot of these tenants who are facing massive increases, it could be the difference between having a home one day and not having it the next,” she said “It’s an extremely stressful situation. Fighting it is stressful.”

Tenants who have come to Ma’s office for help weren’t willing to speak publicly to the North Shore News, for fear of backlash.

Ma said her office has put those people in contact with tenants’ advocates and other community resource staff who are helping to appeal the increases.

She’s also pushing for the new NDP government to close some of the loopholes that allow landlords to raise rents.

“It drives me bonkers that these situations are happening in North Vancouver,” she said.

In 2016 there were 19 applications for geographic rent increases in B.C., according to the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing. Of those, 12 were rejected, three were partially approved, three were approved but phased in over time and one was approved without changes.

Ministry staff said they are reviewing the issue of the threat of “geographic increases” being used to pressure tenants into new leases. Legislation is also imminent to close loopholes allowing landlords to bypass rent control.

A26 | FILM nsnews.com north shore news FRIDAY, OCTOBER 6, 2017 Chaplin danced outside the box in Bali North Shore News: Where was the film footage kept? Was it difficult for you to obtain it? Raphael Millet: No, actually and it was very easy to find. I was looking for the footage and I found the Chaplin Association was based in QA Paris. I’m French and live in Paris I just had to give them a call and they were like RAPHAEL MILLET ‘Great idea. Why don’t you come over and have a look?’ That’s how it happened. The ! Chaplin in Bali: Journey footage was there already to the East. Directed by digitized. It was in pristine Raphael Millet (France 2017). condition and nobody had Screening at the Vancouver ever really used it, not even International Film Festival. Chaplin because he had Visit viff.org for showtimes. never done anything with it. I just had to piece it together JOHN GOODMAN because it was non-edited [email protected] footage so I had to string it together but other than that French filmmaker Raphael it was beautiful footage. Millet sheds light on a little known aspect of Raphael Millet’s documentary, Chaplin in Bali, screens at the Vancity Theatre on Saturday, Oct. 7 at 9:30 p.m. as part of the North Shore News: Already Charlie Chaplin’s career Vancouver International Film Festival. PHOTO SUPPLIED digitized? Isn’t that kind of in his new documentary, unusual? Chaplin in Bali, screening Italy with his brother Sydney esthetic ambitions. His next North Shore News: What’s because you wonder what Raphael Millet: The story this week at the Vancouver after completing a European film, the 1936 masterpiece your interest in Chaplin? What kind of energy, determina- is the Chaplin family found International Film Festival. press tour for City Lights, a Modern Times, introduced The drew you to this story? tion, will, you need to have to this footage in the late ’90s Based on 16mm footage 1931 silent comedy made Tramp’s voice to audiences Raphael Millet: I was inter- achieve that and to be able to when they were looking Chaplin shot himself while on while the rest of the industry for the first time and included ested to find out why someone do such wonderful movies. through the mansion he had an extended vacation in Bali was turning to sound. Bali, a musical score composed by like Chaplin who had done in Switzerland - that’s where in 1932 Millet shows how the where the rhythmic gamelan Chaplin himself. a lot of things, not easily North Shore News: As you say he moved after he left the trip helped the Hollywood star music was heard everywhere, Millet spoke to the North impressed, was suddenly in your film at this point in U.S. - and there were a lot of make the leap from the silent gave Chaplin a new lease on Shore News about making impressed by Bali. I think it 1932 he was second-guessing things in suitcases including era into “talkies.” He’d trav- his creative life, rejuvenat- Chaplin in Bali: Journey to the has something to say about his career as the Silent reels and on these reels was elled to Indonesia by ship from ing both his political and East. the power of Bali, the special Era gave way to sound in written ‘Bali.’ The Chaplin energy of the island and I “Talkies.” His Bali sojourn was Association, the estate that wanted to understand that a rejuvenation and affirmation looks after the estate of through the eyes of someone for him as an artist. It took him Chaplin, decided to digitize it PUBLIC INFORMATION MEETING like him. outside the box. so it could be made avail- Raphael Millet: Yes, exactly in able for research purposes Aredevelopment is being proposed for 2049–2059 Heritage North Shore News: As far as 1932 he had a sort of midlife or whatever. The first thing Park Lane, North Vancouver,toconstruct astacked-townhome Chaplin himself, what was crisis. He even wanted to stop that I was given when I development. Youare invited to ameeting to discuss the project. your personal take on him as a being a director. He was in called them was a DVD of the filmmaker? What interests you Europe promoting a movie footage. Date: Wednesday,October 11, 2017 about him as a film pioneer? (City Lights) and he decided Raphael Millet: I watched he would not go back to North Shore News: Was Time: 6:00pm –8:00pm his movies since the age of Hollywood. He was sick of it Chaplin known to shoot Location: Kenneth Gordon Maplewood School Gym, five with my grandparents. and instead took a boat and much film outside the studio 420 Seymour River Place Chaplin is something quite went east to see the Orient environment? special. I’ve always liked his where he had never been. He Raphael Millet: No he was Anthem Properties proposes to rezone the site to permit movies. He did everything. was looking for something. He not known to be anything 43 townhomes in astacked building form. Each unit ranges in That’s what I realized when was in search of himself some- other than a fiction film- size from 936 to 1,542 squarefeet all located atop asingle-level I came back to his films. He how and he found something maker filming in studio. He was doing everything. He was special in Bali that resonated had his own studio built and underground parkade. actor, producer, director. He in him and brought a kind of he was certainly not known composed the music when he rejuvenation and he was able as a documentary filmmaker. wanted to have a score. That’s to go back to Hollywood and I found that very interesting: truly fascinating as a creator feel inspired again. See Footage page 27

View from Heritage Park Lane

Information packages arebeing distributed to residents within a 100 meter radius of the site. If you would like to receive acopy or if you would like moreinformation, please contact Kevin Zhang of the Community Planning Department at 604-990-2321, or Emily Howard of Anthem Properties at 604-235-3182, or bring your questions and comments to the meeting.

*This is not aPublic Hearing. DNV Council will receive areport from staffonissues raised at the meeting and will formally consider the proposal at alater date. SUNDAY, OCTOBER 8, 2017 north shore news nsnews.com NEWS | A7 Mechanics shortage adds to Blue Bus blues Aging fleet Service notices. the Blue Bus system has a The shortage of mechan- Ray Fung, director of engi- back order for 10 new buses ics means when buses break and increased neering and transportation for with TransLink that he hopes down, sometimes they have West Vancouver, agrees that will be delivered in November to be taken out of service and demand cause recently there have been more 2018. As a result “we’ve had run must be cancelled, he said. glitches than usual on West to keep older vehicles on the “It’s frustrating,” he said, cancellations, Van’s Blue Bus system. Those road for longer.” although he added no more range from cancellations to Meanwhile, the high costs than one to two per cent of overcrowding chronic overcrowding on of living on the North Shore runs are cancelled on average. JANE SEYD some routes. have meant difficulty attract- “It doesn’t happen on a daily [email protected] Some of the problems have ing qualified mechanics. basis,” he said. “Some days ironically been brought about Mechanics are in high can be worse than others.” West Vancouver’s Blue Bus by increases in service to West demand by both TransLink Both Oong and Faris say system is going through Vancouver, part of the mayors’ and the private sector, said they get that, and they appre- some growing pains that plan to increase bus service Fung. “Most of these type of ciate the ease of being able have left some riders throughout the region. employees do not live on the to take the bus most times. frustrated. Frequency of service was North Shore and they prefer Says Faris, “The service works A Blue Bus awaits passengers at Park Royal. Service was boosted “Basically the experience increased this spring and not to commute,” he said. more often than it doesn’t.” this spring and summer on a number of routes. FILE PHOTO of trying to catch a West summer on a number of North Vancouver bus to Vancouver Shore bus routes. during rush hour can be But demand for service very irritating,” said West has risen even faster, said Vancouver resident Daniel Fung. “We’re a bit of a victim Oong. of our own success,” he said. Large numbers of rid- “The demand is beyond the Permissive Tax Exemptions ers waiting at Park Royal capacity to keep up. We don’t for express buses to the have enough service hours to Horseshoe Bay ferry terminal satisfy the demand.” In accordance with Section 227 of the Community Charter,notice is hereby given thatthe Council for the District of North is common. And frequently Adding to the bus sys- Vancouver intends to consider the adoption of Bylaw8260, “2016–2019 Taxation Exemptions by Council Bylaw8130, 2015 those buses are full before tem’s blues is an aging fleet of Amendment Bylaw8260, 2017 (Amendment 2)” at the Regular Council meeting to be held on Monday,October 16, 2017. Bylaw they even arrive in West vehicles, which require more 8260 will provide the following properties (or portions thereof) with a100% exemption from the payment of Municipal taxes for Vancouver. maintenance, and a short- the years 2018 and 2019 inclusive. “It’s always a bit of a mad age of mechanics to keep the Note: The tax figures beloware estimates only and will be modified based on changes in assessment, as provided by BC crowd of people trying to get buses rolling. Assessment, and tax rates, as determined by Council, for the years 2018 and 2019. on,” he says. There are currently eight Reema Faris takes the bus Blue Buses that date back to only on occasion. But she’s 1999 and one that’s 20 years DESCRIPTION ESTIMATED ESTIMATED ESTIMATED also been left waiting by the old. “We’ve been scrambling OF PROPOSED TAXES TAXES TAXES side of the road while Blue to get access to additional ORGANIZATION ADDRESS EXEMPTION 2018 $2019 $2020 $ Buses zoom by with Not In vehicles,” said Fung, noting 18th Street Society 1063 Hendecourt Rd 224 (2) (a) 2,459 2,582 2,712 North Shore Disability Setting it straight Resource Centre Association 104-3205 Mountain Hwy 224 (2) (a) 236 248 260 The Oct. 4 story West Van surveys, an online survey of North Shore Disability Lacks Housing Options: West Vancouver’s non-resident Resource Centre Association 204-3205 Mountain Hwy 224 (2) (a) 236 248 260 Report incorrectly stated the workforce and a telephone North Shore Disability West Vancouver Community survey of 250 West Van resi- Resource Centre Association 304-3205 Mountain Hwy 224 (2) (a) 236 248 260 Foundation’s Vital Signs dents, ages 21 and older. Read North Shore Disability update used data from a single the full report at westvanfoun- Resource Centre Association 404-3205 Mountain Hwy 224 (2) (a) 236 248 260 survey. Research included two dation.com. The Corporation of the City of North Vancouver –parkland District Lot 1620 224 (2) (b) 40,706 42,741 44,878 North Shore Disability •WILLS, TRUSTS, ESTATE Resource Centre Association 951 HendryAve 224 (2) (j) 2,851 2,994 3,144 PLANNING, POWERS OF North Shore Disability ATTORNEY Resource Centre Association 750 W23rd St 224 (2) (j) 3,246 3,408 3,578 •PROBATEOFWILLS North Shore Disability Lynn &ESTATES Resource Centre Association 2000 Rufus Dr 224 (2) (j) 2,611 2,742 2,879 •REAL ESTATE, PROPERTY Valley &CONTRACT DISPUTES Copies of Bylaw8260, “2016–2019 Taxation Exemptions by Council Bylaw8130, 2015 Amendment Bylaw8260, 2017 Law (Amendment 2)” and relevant background material are available for review in the District of North Vancouver Clerk’sOffice and •SEPARATION &DIVORCE the Finance Department at the Municipal Hall. The Municipal Hall is located at 355 West Queens Road, North Vancouver and is open Monday through Friday,except StatutoryHolidays, between the hours of 8amand 4:30 pm. Lynn ValleyCentre •604-985-8000 For further information, please call Cristina Rucci, Social Planner,at604-990-2274 or Elio Iorio, Manager –Revenue and Taxation, at 604-990-2225 Permissive TaxExemptions -Extract of Community Charter 224 (1) ACouncil may,bybylawinaccordance with this section, exempt land or improvements, or both, referred to in subsection (2) from taxation under section 197 (1) (a) [municipal property taxes], to the extent, for the period and subject to the conditions provided in the bylaw. (2) Taxexemptions may be provided under this section for the following: www.westvanfootclinic.com (a) land or improvements that (i) are owned or held by acharitable, philanthropic or other not for profit corporation, and (ii) the council considers are used for apurpose thatisdirectly related to the purposes of the corporation; Mortons Neuroma Ingrown Plantar fasciitis and Corns,calluses or bursitis toe nails heel spurs and warts (b) land or improvements that Medical and Surgical (i) are owned by amunicipality,regional district or other local authority,and Treatment of the Foot (ii) the council considers are used for apurpose of the local authority; •Custom Molded ODthotics for Pain Bunions and hammertoes •PDivEte Foot SuDgeDy (j) land or improvements owned or held by aperson or organization and operated as aprivate hospital licensed •PlEntED FEsciitis &Heel PEin under the Hospital Act or as alicensed community care facility,orregistered assisted living residence, under the •MoDton’sNeuDomE PEin High arched feet Community Care and Assisted Living Act. •IngDown ToeNEils, PlEntEDsWEDts •FEbulous MedicEl PedicuDes Flat or low arched feet DD.Shenin MohEmed, PODIaTrIST Specialized Foot Doctor &Surgeon 604-913-FOOT(3668) dnv.org NVanDistrict @NVanDistrict 1873 Marine Drive,West Vancouver SUNDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2017 north shore news nsnews.com NEWS | A11 Money can be a major factor

From page 5 having an address and being his style when it comes to able to pick up at a moment’s dating. his skills to convert a U-Haul- notice and go. His response: “I’ve never type truck into a home. He He parks his purple home met a girl who didn’t immedi- carved out windows, built on wheels in North Vancouver, ately love it, and in fact have cabinets inside and put in a where he works full time as a had many live-in relationships king-size bed. delivery man. over the years, and even Then there’s the older But when the weekend hits, dated a girl who had her own man living in a plumber’s van. the outdoor enthusiast heads camper van for quite a while. Those in the Capilano Mall out of town. He feels satisfac- It’s been fantastic.” neighbourhood recognize him tion in taking off for Tofino When asked what he would by his captain’s hat. or Whistler with some extra do if someone handed him a Dean will sit outside the RV change in his pocket for gas, house, the choice is clear for in his rocking chair and make ferry tolls and recreational Justin. conversation with strangers. activities. “I’ll rent the damn thing A transistor radio stays on “That’s the beauty of this out,” he says. “As long as all night to keep Dean com- lifestyle is you don’t have a set there’s a parking spot in the pany in the RV. This is where cost,” says Justin. “You can driveway for my van, I’m William Price wasn’t a fan of apartment life, so now he lives in an RV on the street just down the he wants to live out the rest of live on a few hundred dollars happy.” block from his workplace. He says he has no interest in moving. PHOTO MIKE WAKEFIELD his life. a month or quite often I’ll “I probably will, because spend more than the average you know what: It’s no secret Vancouverite does on rent, but that I can’t afford $1,100 a that’s because I’m doing fun month for a bachelor suite,” things.” says Dean, adamantly. “Take Justin hosts Camper-Cons this away from me and I’ll be and has a social media pres- Permissive Tax Exemptions sleeping under that bush.” ence, answering questions Maintenance and fuel costs on his website and offering this time of year are about resources for newbie RV In accordance with Section 227 of the Community Charter,notice is hereby given thatthe Council for the District of North $300 a month. Both John and dwellers. Vancouver intends to consider the adoption of Bylaw8260, “2016–2019 Taxation Exemptions by Council Bylaw8130, 2015 Dean’s RVs are set up on solar “No mortgage, no yard Amendment Bylaw8260, 2017 (Amendment 2)” at the Regular Council meeting to be held on Monday,October 16, 2017. Bylaw power systems. There’s also a work, no stress. Life on wheels 8260 will provide the following properties (or portions thereof) with a100% exemption from the payment of Municipal taxes for backup generator for the rainy is fantastic” reads Justin’s the years 2018 and 2019 inclusive. days. bio on his YouTube channel, Note: The tax figures beloware estimates only and will be modified based on changes in assessment, as provided by BC On this gloomy Friday JustinCredibleTV, which has Assessment, and tax rates, as determined by Council, for the years 2018 and 2019. morning, Dean has put on a amassed 30,161 subscribers fresh pot of coffee. A plate and 6,027,529 views to date. of cookies is already on the Justin’s audience is a mixed DESCRIPTION ESTIMATED ESTIMATED ESTIMATED kitchen table. Dean is set to bag of people who are already OF PROPOSED TAXES TAXES TAXES regale his friend with a tale RVing and those who want to. ORGANIZATION ADDRESS EXEMPTION 2018 $2019 $2020 $ from another life. He’s heard from people who 18th Street Society 1063 Hendecourt Rd 224 (2) (a) 2,459 2,582 2,712 “I’m happy with this life,” have sold their house or apart- North Shore Disability says John. In a few short ment, put stuff in storage and Resource Centre Association 104-3205 Mountain Hwy 224 (2) (a) 236 248 260 months, the two men have moved into a motorhome. saved each other on this “And I’ve never had anyone North Shore Disability street. John introduced Dean tell me they regret it,” he says. Resource Centre Association 204-3205 Mountain Hwy 224 (2) (a) 236 248 260 to solar energy and in turn his William Price, a friend North Shore Disability friend taught him how to live a of Justin’s in the RV com- Resource Centre Association 304-3205 Mountain Hwy 224 (2) (a) 236 248 260 humble life. munity, is someone who has North Shore Disability no regrets. The 46-year-old Resource Centre Association 404-3205 Mountain Hwy 224 (2) (a) 236 248 260 WHERE THE STREETS HAVE has lived for six years in an The Corporation of the City of NO NAME RV parked a few steps from North Vancouver –parkland District Lot 1620 224 (2) (b) 40,706 42,741 44,878 Walmart, where he works as a Justin Credible is a colour- stockman. North Shore Disability Resource Centre Association 951 HendryAve 224 (2) (j) 2,851 2,994 3,144 ful ambassador for RV life. Apartment life doesn’t suit An early off-the-grid Price. It’s unaffordable, he North Shore Disability adopter, Justin goes out of his says, plus there are too many Resource Centre Association 750 W23rd St 224 (2) (j) 3,246 3,408 3,578 way to get people’s attention rules. North Shore Disability and promote the lifestyle, At the moment, he’s string- Resource Centre Association 2000 Rufus Dr 224 (2) (j) 2,611 2,742 2,879 using his penchant for purple. ing up Halloween lights, bats Sporting sunglasses, a large and other spooky decorations Copies of Bylaw8260, “2016–2019 Taxation Exemptions by Council Bylaw8130, 2015 Amendment Bylaw8260, 2017 chain and a fedora, Justin around his RV, which he pur- (Amendment 2)” and relevant background material are available for review in the District of North Vancouver Clerk’sOffice and pokes his head out of his chased for $700. the Finance Department at the Municipal Hall. The Municipal Hall is located at 355 West Queens Road, North Vancouver and is purple RV. A classic U2 song He picks up a free Wi-Fi sig- open Monday through Friday,except StatutoryHolidays, between the hours of 8amand 4:30 pm. emanates from the surround nal from a nearby store and 13 sound system inside the cosy TV channels from an antenna For further information, please call motorhome. atop his roof. Cristina Rucci, Social Planner,at604-990-2274 or Elio Iorio, Manager –Revenue and Taxation, at 604-990-2225 Hard to ignore are the Food is his big expense out Permissive TaxExemptions -Extract of Community Charter purple zebra print accents, here. Price spends about $300 224 (1) ACouncil may,bybylawinaccordance with this section, exempt land or improvements, or both, referred to in including sheets, curtains every two weeks because he subsection (2) from taxation under section 197 (1) (a) [municipal property taxes], to the extent, for the period and and seat covers, splashed likes to eat. He’s about to put subject to the conditions provided in the bylaw. throughout the RV. There’s a “pound of bacon” on the (2) Taxexemptions may be provided under this section for the following: even a purple air freshener. mountain of tin-foiled potatoes (a) land or improvements that His purple game is on point. sitting near his stove. “It was ugly off-white with Pieces of an old Christmas (i) are owned or held by acharitable, philanthropic or other not for profit corporation, and horrible ugly RV stripes down train sit in stacked boxes, tied (ii) the council considers are used for apurpose thatisdirectly related to the purposes of the corporation; the side,” says Justin, who has against the wall with yellow (b) land or improvements that the voice of a radio announcer. tape to prevent shifting. (i) are owned by amunicipality,regional district or other local authority,and He just turned 37, but “It was my dad’s,” explains (ii) the council considers are used for apurpose of the local authority; considers himself a pioneer Price. “I don’t really want to for how to live happily on the part with it but I don’t really (j) land or improvements owned or held by aperson or organization and operated as aprivate hospital licensed under the Hospital Act or as alicensed community care facility,orregistered assisted living residence, under the cheap. need anything that’s 110 Community Care and Assisted Living Act. “It is kind of about the volts.” economics but I was doing this How long does Price see before the rental crisis. I’ve himself living like this? “The been doing this for 17 years,” rest of my life,” he says. says the seasoned vagabond. Justin was asked through Justin thrives on not his website if RV life cramps dnv.org NVanDistrict @NVanDistrict A38 | TODAY’S DRIVE nsnews.com north shore news FRIDAY, OCTOBER 6, 2017 Growl adds some fun to weekly grocery run

From page 37

the rev range. With a 5.0-litre Mustang, just for contrast, you have to rev it up. The Charger R/T is a stump-puller; just like muscle cars used to be. Paired with an eight-speed automatic that’s as good as you’d find in most luxury cars, the big engine adds a dose of thrill to even mun- dane tasks. It’s now got the same dual-mode exhaust as its more powerful brethren, so kicking it into sport mode and stomping the throttle brings a titanic bellow from the engine. Of course, just like muscle machines of yore, the Charger is pretty heavy. Most of the more powerful turbocharged hatchbacks will match or exceed it in performance numbers. There’s also The optional V-8, 5.7-litre Hemi engine in the Dodge Charger boasts a massive amount of a considerable amount of torque, providing lots of immediate thrust to overcome the car’s heavy curb weight. understeer, and a ponderous sense of weight from behind run, a sense of heft and Fuel economy figures ear inside you dreamed of. the wheel. potency behind the wheel, not going to tempt you out of So what? This is chapter and just a double helping your Prius. While 14.7 (litres and verse from The Book of of character, the Charger per 100 kilometres) in the Competition Duke. If you want safe, plain, R/T is a grand slam. Yes, it’s city and 9.4 on the highway DODGE CHALLENGER and practical, may I suggest the automotive equivalent are reasonable numbers for ($40,695) you pop down the road to the of a double cheeseburger, a big, heavy V-8 car, gas isn’t Unfortunately, the Charger Toyota dealership, and ask to and some of that cheese is as cheap around here as it doesn’t really have a direct see an Avalon in an easy-to- certainly of the processed is in the U.S. On the other rival. The closest would be clean silver. variety. It might not be all hand, the Charger will hap- the Chevy SS, which never If the Dukes of Hazzard got an office job, they mightve dri to But if you want a V-8 that sensible or good for you, pily hit that highway figure made it into showrooms work in one of these. PHOTOS MIKE WAKEFIELD soundtrack to the grocery but it tastes great. all day long. The eight-speed North of the border, and is transmission and effort- now sadly defunct anyway. FEATURES less low-end V-8 grunt work Really, the main rival to Dodge’s feature loadouts hand-in-glove. the Charger is parked right are flat-out bewildering. While next to it at your local Dodge PUBLICINFORMATIONMEETING the trim levels make sense, GREEN LIGHT dealership. The Challenger is it can be hard to pin down Fantastic soundtrack; less practical than the four- exactly what you want. By strong curb presence; plenty door sedan, but if anything the time you’ve moved up to of choice; lots of character. it’s got even more character. Aredevelopment is proposed the R/T package, there’s not Pricing is pretty close too. much that needs added on. STOP SIGN Even better, you can get for 1552 – 1568 OxfordStreet, At a total price of $51,905, V-8 thirst; so-so interior Dodge’s two-door with a to construct asix-storey my tester probably didn’t quality; gets expensive with manual transmission. It all need the $4,595 premium options. depends on picking between wood-framebuildingonan package. I’d skip it, although the kid in the back seat or the undergroundparkade. it’s an annoyance that Apple THE CHECKERED FLAG big one in the driver’s seat. CarPlay and Android Auto are Practical enough for adult bundled with the navigation. life, but everything the kid [email protected] YOUARE INVITED TO AMEETING TO DISCUSS THE PROJECT. HOPETO SEE YOUTHERE!

DATE Theapplicant proposes to rezone thesitefrom October 10, 2017 single-familyzoningtoacomprehensive development zone,topermit a89-unit multi-family apartment project. TIME Eachunitisbetween631 and1,126 square feet in size. 6:00pm to 7:30pm Informationpackagesare beingdistributed to residents LOCATION within a100 meterradius of thesite. If youwould like JimGrahamRoom to receiveacopyorifyou would like more information, North Shore Winter Club contactCasey Peters from theCommunity Planning Department at 604-990-2480orHansFastfromAdera 1325 EKeith Rd,North Development at 604-684-8277orbring your questions Vancouver, BC V7J1J3 andcommentstothe meeting.

*This is not aPublic Hearing. DNV Council will receiveareport from staff on issues raisedatthe meeting and will formally considerthe proposal at alater date.

Blacked-out front grilles were part of a recent facelift for the Charger, adding to the already blunt styling to give the vehicle a lot of heft and presence. A30 | SPORTS nsnews.com north shore news WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2017 Windsor wins again as regular season kicks off

The Windsor Dukes football team kept on winning this week, topping the Hugh Boyd Trojans 25-14 to open regular season play in the Western AA Conference. The win moved the Dukes to 3-0 on the season, 1-0 in league play. The dynamic duo of quarterback Ryan Baker and receiver Julien Perri led the way, connecting six times, including three touchdowns. Baker also ran in a touchdown as the Dukes completed a fourth-quarter West Van tacklers get a grip on a runner from Nanaimo comeback for the win. District during AAA action Friday. Visit nsnews.com to see Baker also led the team more photos of the action. PHOTO PAUL MCGRATH on defence with nine tackles in the game. This Friday was dominant on both sides Notre Dame. the Dukes will be at William of the ball, scoring on an The Eagles will host Griffin turf field for a cross- interception return and regis- Vancouver College Friday at town showdown against the tering 10 tackles on defence 3:45 p.m. at Carson Graham, Argyle Pipers. Kickoff is at 3 while hauling in 10 catches while West Van will go on p.m. for 113 yards on offence. the road this week to take on Windsor’s Sean Werbowski finds some running room during a 25-14 win over Hugh Boyd in AA The Pipers are also com- At the AAA level the Rutland Secondary. football action Friday. More photos: nsnews.com. PHOTO PAUL MCGRATH ing off a win, having gone on North Shore teams weren’t The Handsworth Royals the road to knock off Holy so fortunate, with the West will get back into action in Cross 27-21 in Surrey on Vancouver Highlanders the AAA Pacific Division this Saturday. Declan Confortin losing at home 29-6 against week, traveling to the Island Pink day Oct. 21 at Capilano caught two touchdown Nanaimo District and the to take on Nanaimo District passes from quarterback Mac Carson Graham Eagles los- Thursday. From page 29 looking for.” that community, club feel,” he Ward while Devin O’Hea ing on the road 48-0 against – Andy Prest Regardless of where they said. “You never feel unwel- and they have a lot of return- finish the season, Valle said come here. It’s actually quite ing talent,” said Valle. “Our he is happy to have found a a pride thing to be part of expectation really is to win home at Capilano. this club, because when you the competition. Anything “It’s great to be part of mention it, people know who less is not really what we’re something where you have they are.”

PUBLIC INFORMATION MEETING EMERYVILLAGE DEVELOPMENT

DATE: Wednesday,October 18, 2017,6:00-8:00pm VENUE: Argyle Secondary School cafeteria 1131 Frederick Road, Lynn Valley,North Vancouver Mosaic invites you to ameeting to review plans for The New Emery Village at 1200-1259 Emery Place.Our proposal is consistent with the Official Community Plan, helping to achieve the District of North Vancouver’svision of increasing housing options for North Shore residents within walking distance of the Lynn Valley Town Centre.Proposed housing choices include townhomes, apartments, and rental homes to accommodate awide range of residents including renters, empty nesters, young families, couples and ﬁrst time buyers. The existing 61 rental homes will be replaced with 84 rental homes, in amix of affordable rental and market rental.

The development offers several neighbourhood infrastructure improvements, such as new roads and services, and better access to Kirkstone Park through new pedestrian pathways. Kirkstone Emery Emery Pl. Park Village Aﬂyer is being distributed to owners and occupants

within 100 metres of the site Kirkstone Hwy. in accordance with DNV Rd policy.This is not aPublic .

N Mountain Hearing. DNV Council will formally consider the proposal at afuture date. We look forward to hearing your feedback on The New Emery Village.You can learn more at: www.emeryvillage.ca.

APPLICANT: Kristina Kovacs, Mosaic Homes 604-685-3888 STICK WORK Handsworth’s Grace Delmotte shadows West Van’s Alix Vanry during a North Shore senior girls AAA field hockey matchup Oct. 4 at Rutledge Field. West Van won DISTRICT: Casey Peters, Planning Department 3-2 to move to top spot in the league with a 3-0 record, while Handsworth dropped to 1-1. Visit nsnews.com to see more photos from the game. PHOTO PAUL MCGRATH 604-990-2388

A32 | PULSE nsnews.com north shore news FRIDAY, OCTOBER 6, 2017 SHOWTIMES

CINEPLEX CINEMAS ESPLANADE CINEPLEX ODEON PARK & TILFORD 200 West Esplanade, North Vancouver 333 Brooksbank Ave., North Vancouver, Plot recalls European art The Lego Ninjago Movie (G) It (14A) – Fri 3:30, 6:30, 9:35; Sat-Mon 12:30, 3:30, – Sat-Mon 12:30, 1, 4:15 p.m. 6:30, 9:35; Tue-Thur 6:30, 9:35 p.m. The Lego Ninjago Movie 3D (G) Kingsman: The Golden Circle (14A) – Fri 3:25, cinema of De Sica, Godard – Fri-Thur 6:45, 9:45 p.m. 6:40, 9:45; Sat-Sun 12:25, 3:25, 6:40, 9:45; Mon 12:25, American Made (14A) 3:25, 6:40, 9:40; Tue-Thur 6:40, 9:40 p.m. – Fri 7, 9:40; Sat-Sun 1:15, 4:20, 7, 9:40; Mon 1:15, Flatliners (14A) – Fri 4:30, 7:15, 10; Sat-Sun 1:45, From page 28 De Sica’s classic Bicycle “Not just as a terrifying 4:20, 7, 9:40; Tue-Thur 7, 9:40 p.m. 4:30, 7:15, 10; Mon 1:45, 4:30, 7:05, 9:45; Tue-Thur Thieves. economic powerhouse – Battle of the Sexes (PG) 7:05, 9:45 p.m. Thur 1 p.m. way Wong is an adult: barely. “We ended up having var- although that’s something – Fri, Tue-Thur 6:35, 9:20; Sat-Mon 12:50, 3:45, The Mountain Between Us (PG) – Fri 4:15, 7, But his son rides ied styles because the movie to confront – not just as a 6:35, 9:20 p.m. 9:45; Sat 11 a.m., 1:30, 4:15, 7, 9:45; Sun-Mon 1:30, 4:15, alongside his father with- is about cinema,” Voutas country that represses its Blade Runner 2049 (14A) 7, 9:45; Tue-Thur 7, 9:45 p.m. Thur 1 p.m. out complaint, even when explains. artist dissidents, although – Sat-Mon 3:40 p.m. Victoria & Abdul (PG) – Fri 4, 6:45, 9:30; Sat 11:10 they’re not going where he Some frames echo De that’s obviously going on Blade Runner 2049 3D (14A) a.m., 1:30, 4, 6:45, 9:30; Sun-Mon 1:30, 4, 6:45, 9:30; wants to go Sica while the handheld there.” – Fri, Tue-Thur 6:25, 7:20, 9:15; Sat-Mon 12:40, Tue-Thur 6:45, 9:30 p.m. Thur 1 p.m. “This is very much a movie camera is a nod to Jean-Luc Instead, the movies show 2:50, 6:20, 7:20, 9:15 p.m. My Little Pony: The Movie (G) – Fri 4:50, 7:25, 10; about a father (where) his Godard. creative artists using all Last Night Sat 11:50 a.m., 2:15, 4:50, 7:25, 10; Sun 2:15, 4:50, 7:25, own dreams are the most But the references deepen sorts of channels of express – Fri, Tue-Thur 7:05, 9:30; Sat-Mon 1:20, 4:25, 10; Mon 2:05, 4:40, 7:10, 9:40; Tue-Thur 7:10, 9:40 important,” Voutas says. when Big Wong reminisces what’s right and wrong with 7:05, 9:30 p.m. Metropolitan Opera: Norma – Sat 9:55 a.m. The plot recalls Vittorio about European cinema. China. “I thought Italy and In King of Peking, the France were all black and audience sees a version of white,” he says. “Who knew China that’s vanished. they lived in colour?” Much of the movie is set That type of nuance is in a movie theatre two hours one of the elements VIFF outside Beijing. It used to programmer Shelly Kraicer show propaganda movies, looks for in choosing the Voutas says. BRITISH PUB fest’s Chinese-language He wanted to find a TheCheshireCheeseRestaurant&Bar $$ TheBlack Bear Neighbourhood Pub $$ films. theatre in the city, “But so He speaks excitedly much has been destroyed in www.cheshirecheeserestaurant.ca www.blackbearpub.com about The Great Buddha as Beijing since the 1990s.” 2nd Floor LonsdaleQuay Market, N. Van. |604-987-3322 1177Lynn Valley Road, N. Van. |604-990-8880 a portrait of life in Taiwan, “In a China where build- Excellent seafood &British dishes on the waterfront. “Your FavouriteNorth ShorePub”20years running. We The Hidden Sword as a funny ings are being destroyed Dinner specials &weekend brunch. do greatfood, not fast food. Full Take-Out menu. Reserve swordfighting epic that deals and replaced by new build- Open forlunch or dinner,7daysaweek. your party of 15-30 ppl except Friday’s. with the soul of China. ings,” he says, “the cinema Movies like those can becomes your memories.” CHINESE We nowallowchildren and minors change an audiences’ We can almost imagine a forlunch Mon-Fri. 11am-2pm when OneMoreSzechuan Restaurant $ perception of China, he little boy yelling that in the accompanied by an adult. explains. street. www.onemoreszechuan.ca 1262Marine Drive, N. Van. |604-929-3000 Our weekend &holidayfamily periods Bringing Asian infusion to North remain unchanged 11am until 4pm. Vancouver.With our unique twist on Public Information Meeting Chinesefood, you’re suretofind adish Sailor Hagar’sNeighbourhood Pub $$ thatyou’ll love.Westartwith only the www.sailorhagarspub.com 86 Semisch Avenue, N. Van. |604-984-3087 freshest ingredients to stir fry delicious Wedgewood Ventures has submitted melodies of tastes and colors thatare suretodelight Spectacular viewofVancouver harbour arezoning application foran8-unit the senses. &city skyline. Enjoyexcellent food in a Brew Pub atmosphere. 20 draught beers townhouse developmentfor 4670 Woon LeeInn $ and ciders, featuring local microbreweries Capilano Road. www.woonleeinn.com &our own6craft-brews. 3751Delbrook Avenue, N. Van. |604-986-3388 Youare invited to ameeting to learnmore HappyHour daily 11am-6pm! Brunch served weekends and and discuss the project. INDIAN holidays &freepool every Sunday! Darts, pool, foosball, lotto games, 11 big screen TVs&heatedpatio. Thursday, October 12 Handi CuisineofIndia $$ 7pm- 8:30pm www.handicuisineofindia.ca SEAFOOD 1579 Bellevue Avenue, W. Van. |604-925-5262 Presentation at 7:30pm C-Lovers Fish &Chips $$ ANorth ShoreNews Reader’sChoice Canyon Heights Church 2006 Winner,offering Authentic www.c-lovers.com Indian Cuisine. Open forlunch and Marine Drive@Pemberton, N. Van. |604-980-9993 4840 Capilano Road dinner,7daysaweek. 6640 RoyalAve., Horseshoe Bay,W.Van. |604-913-0994 Weekend buffet, free delivery. The best fish &chipsonthe North Shore! Swad Indian Kitchen $$$ Montgomery’sFish &Chips $ 1734 Marine Drive, W. Van., BC |604-281-4411 International Food Court, The diversemenu with garlic influenced LonsdaleQuay Market, N. Van. |604-929-8416 dishes represents the different states The fastest growing Fish &Chipsonthe North Shore. of India. Experienceatruly unique culinary experiencewith traditional infused creations. With over35years of experienceweconfidently create extraordinary authentic $ Bargain Fare ($5-8) Formoreinformation: high end delicacies and specialties thatwill aweyour family, friends and businesscolleagues. $$ Inexpensive ($9-12) James Fox, Wedgewood Ventures 604-649-5658 THAI $$$ Moderate ($13-15) DarrenVeres,Planner,Districtof Thai PudPongRestaurant $$ $$$$ FineDining($15-25) North Vancouver www.thaipudpong.com 604-990-2487 1474 Marine Drive, W. Van. |604-921-1069 West Vancouver’soriginal Thai Restaurant. Live Music Sports Facebook This is not aPublic Hearing.DNV Council will Serving authentic Thai cuisine. HappyHour Wifi Wheelchair Accessible receiveareportfromstaff on issues raised at the Open Monday-Fridayfor lunch. 7daysaweek fordinner. meeting and will formally consider the proposal To appear in this Dining Guide email [email protected] at alater date. A18 | MUSIC nsnews.com north shore news FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 2017 PUBLIC INFORMATION MEETING Aredevelopment is being proposed for 904–944 Lytton Street, North Vancouver,toconstruct amulti-family development. You areinvited to ameeting to discuss the project. Date: Wednesday,October 4, 2017 Time: 6:00pm –7:30pm Location: Windsor Secondary School Small Gym, 931 Broadview Drive

Anthem Properties proposes to rezone the site to permit a 333 unit multi-family development consisting of 133 townhomes, 157 condominiums and 43 rental apartments. Stacked townhomes and apartment units will be constructed over 3underground parkades, while the ground-oriented townhomes have attached two-car garages.

Information packages arebeing distributed to residents within a minimum 100 meters of the site. If you would like to receive acopy or if you would like moreinformation, please contact Darren Veres of the Development Planning Department at 604-990-2487, or Musician Ariel Barnes placed first in the Cello category at the 24th International Johannes Emily HowardofAnthem Properties at 604-235-3182, or bring your Brahms Competition in Austria earlier this month. PHOTO SUPPLIED questions and comments to the meeting. KAY MEEK: MANITOBA CHAMBER ORCHESTRA *This is not aPublic Hearing. DNV Council will receive areport from staffonissues raised at the meeting and will formally consider the proposal at alater date. Cellist Ariel Barnes joins ensemble to open season Iwanttohear everything! ! Ariel Barnes and The from Europe where he was Musica Intima, Trio Verlaine, As told by GerryCotter Former AirTraﬃc Controller Manitoba Chamber awarded first prize in the and many individual artists. Orchestra, Grosvenor Cello category at the 24th Along with Heidi Theatre at Kay Meek Centre, International Johannes Krutzen, Barnes has also “Wedon’t realizethatwe’re losing ourhearing,it’sso Saturday, Sept. 30, 7:30 Brahms Competition in formed the cello/harp duo subtle.The soundofthe powder snow on your skis is p.m. For more details visit Pörtschach, Austria. Couloir to perform mod- thereconstantly. It’s surprising,whenyou skiwithout kaymeek.com. Born to a violinist and ern pieces for that unique soundyou don’thavethe same control, youdon’t hear a composer, Barnes was instrumentation. thesoundsassociated with whereyourskisare.Isimply JOHN GOODMAN playing the cello by the age On the program at Kay can’tski as well,without my hearingaids. [email protected] of five. Meek, Barnes will perform As an Air TraﬃcController, my career wasdependent on Equally at home with Haydn’s Cello Concerto No. maintainingperfect hearing. Theblast of high frequency Cellist Ariel Barnes both baroque and modern 1 in C, Michael Oesterle’s sounds throughmyheadsetsdeterioratedmyhearing opens the Re/Sonate musical languages, the Ironman Concerto, and over time.After all, like thebrakesonyourcar,your Series at the Kay Meek cellist is particularly keen Mozart’s Symphony No. 29 senseofhearing isn’tnecessarily missed untilyou need it. Centre on Sept. 30 in on exploring the chamber with the Manitoba Chamber Communicationisthe most important thinginlife. You a performance with music genre and has worked Orchestra. communicate everyday.But Ican’t do that if Ican’t the Manitoba Chamber with the likes of the Zodiac For more information visit hear.Noone can. When youwithdraw, you’re left out Orchestra. Trio, Dover String Quartet, kaymeek.com/arielbarnes- in thequiet.Losingour abilitytocommunicate would Barnes has just returned St. Lawrence String Quartet, manitoba-chamber-orchestra. be atragedy. When Icanoe Iwanttobeabletohearthe ripple of the wateronmycanoe.WhenIski,Iwanttohearthe shoosh of thesnowonmyskis. When I’minacrowd, Iwantto be part of it.Ihaven’t gotany time to waste, Iwantto hear everything. Icouldn’tdoitwithout NexGenHearing!”

WATCHTHE VIDEO

WEST VANCOUVER NORTH VANCOUVER 604.281.3691 604.988.9900 114-2419 Bellevue Ave. 102-125E13thSt. ENTERTO WIN! nexgenhearing.com Advanced HearingAids $ WorkSafeBC andother Provincial WCB Call fordetails. 5000 value Networks,VAC,MSDSI andFNIHB accepted Contestrules Registered underthe CollegeofSpeechand HearingHealthProfessionalsofBC on website A22 | COMMUNITY nsnews.com north shore news WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 2017

PUBLIC HEARING 1801-1865GCLICKlenaTOireDEDriITve & 2064-208MASTER2CurlinTITLEgRoad 40 Unit TownhouseProject What: APublic Hearingfor Bylaws 8244and 8245, proposed amendments to the OfficialCommunity Plan and Zoning Bylaw, to permitthe development of aforty unittownhouseproject.

When: 7pm, Tuesday,October 3, 2017

Where: Council Chambers, District of North Vancouver Municipal Hall, 355 West Queens Road, North Vancouver,BC

Proposed*

FRESH CRUST Anna gets an eyeful of a freshwater crustacean during Rivers Day at MacKay Creek. The crayfish breathe through feather-like gills and inhabit bodies of water where there’s enough shelter to hide from predators. PHOTO CINDY GOODMAN

COMMUNITYBULLETINBOARD

*Provided by applicant for illustrative purposes only. Email information for your North Shore event to [email protected]. What changes? Theactual development,ifapproved, maydiffer. Bylaw8244 proposes to amend the OCPland usedesignation of the ARTS CONNECTION: SHARE 604-922-6602 or eafergus@ studio, will hold three classes properties from Residential Level 2: Detached Residential (RES2)to YOUR PHOTOGRAPHS shaw.ca Saturday, Sept. 30, 7:30, 8:45 Residential Level 4: TransitionMultifamily (RES4)and to designate these Learn how to deal with your UNIFIERS OF HUMANITY: and 10 a.m. at 1617 Lonsdale properties as Development Permit Areas forFormand Character and Energy printed photographs and 1817 TO 2017 The Baha’i Ave., North Vancouver. Classes and WaterConservation and GHGEmissionReduction. Bylaw8245 preserve those precious Community of West Vancouver are by a minimum donation proposes to amend the District’s Zoning Bylawbycreating anew moments during this drop-in will present a look at the of $10 with all proceeds being ComprehensiveDevelopment Zone 106 (CD106)and rezone the subjectsite seminar at the Ferry Building founders of the Baha’i faith donated to the Mexican Red from Single-Family Residential 7200Zone (RS3)toComprehensive Gallery, 1414 Argyle Ave., West in the global historic context Cross to help with earthquake Development Zone 106 (CD106).The CD106 Zone addressesuse,density, Vancouver Wednesday, Sept. Thursday, Sept. 28, 7 p.m. at relief efforts. RSVP: lonsdale@ amenities,setbacks, sitecoverage,buildingheight, acousticrequirements, 27, 10 a.m.-noon. Admission West Vancouver Memorial f45training.com. landscaping, subdivisionand parking. $10 Bring 20 print photos of Library, 1950 Marine Dr. $10. FIRST WELCOME HYCH’KA your choice and a memory [email protected] 604-230- Presentation House Theatre When can Ispeak? stick and guest speaker Harley 8439 in partnership with the Mortal We welcome your inputTuesday,October 3, 2017, at 7pm. Youcan speak in Cross will scan and save them. NEW COMMUNITY Coil Performance Society personbysigning up at the hearing, or youcan provideawritten submission ferrybuildinggallery.com CHILDREN’S CHOIR for kids welcome the public to a to the Municipal [email protected] or by mail to Municipal Clerk, District GREEN NECKLACE OPEN who love to sing, ages 6-12 community parade in Lower Lonsdale culminating in a free of North Vancouver,355 West Queens Road, North Vancouver,BC, HOUSE Preliminary designs Thursdays, 6:30- 7:30 p.m., performance, celebration and V7N4N5, beforethe conclusion of the hearing. for the last section of the Green Sept. 28-Dec. 14 at the West Necklace Greenway connecting Vancouver Presbyterian potluck picnic at Waterfront Pleasenote that Council maynot receivefurther submissions from the public Lonsdale at West 21st Street to Church, 29th Street and Marine Park, North Vancouver on concerning thisapplication after the conclusion of the public hearing. Grand Boulevard at East 19th Drive. Info: Diana, 778-233-3785. Saturday, Sept. 30, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Street will be presented by NORTH SHORE CULTURE firstwelcome-hychka.com Need more info? the City of North Vancouver, DAYS includes a wide range PUMPKINFEST DANCE Relevantbackground materialand copies of the bylaws areavailablefor Wednesday, Sept. 27, 5-7 p.m. of free, hands-on fun for the featuring Abra Cadabra – a review at the Municipal Clerk’s Office or onlineatdnv.org/public_hearing at Silver Harbour Centre, 144 E artist in everyone Sept. 29-Oct. Tribute to the Music and from September 12 to October 3. Office hours areMonday to Friday 8amto 22nd. St. cnv.org 1 at various locations Across Magic of Abba Saturday, Sept. 30, 6:30-11 p.m. There 4:30 pm,except statutoryholidays. WEST VAN GOGOS the North Shore. People of all will be activities for the kids BOWLING NIGHT Bowl at ages and artistic persuasions from 6:30-8 p.m., featuring Whocan Ispeak to? North Shore Bowling Lanes, are invited to participate in sports, crafts, and a photo If youhavequestions on the development proposal,pleasecontactErik Wednesday, Sept. 27, 6-8:30 the events. For a complete booth. Food and drink will be Wilhelm, Development Planner,[email protected] p.m. and raise funds for the list of North Shore Culture available from Mom’s Grilled Stephen Lewis Foundation. $25 Days events visit nvrc.ca/ Cheese Truck and Howe includes two five-pin games, culturedays. Sound Brewing. The event will bowling shoes and two slices of CHARITY WORKOUT F45 also include a silent auction dnv.org/public_hearing pizza, coffee and a sweet. Make Training Lonsdale, a functional your reservations by calling high intensity circuit training See more page 38 NVanDistrict @NVanDistrict A10 | NEWS nsnews.com north shore news FRIDAY, OCTOBER 6, 2017 TransLink tests low- floor shuttles in WV Notice of Road Closure New buses ease andDCLICKisposTOitionEDIT loading for riders MASTER TITLE with walkers, Glenaire Drive wheelchairs

BRENT RICHTER BylawNo. 8258,2017 [email protected]

TheDistrict of North Vancouver givesnoticeofits intentiontoclose TransLink is using the to traffic theportion of road allowanceshownoutlined below and North Shore to test a new model of shuttle bus labelledas“ClosedRoad” and remove thededicationofthisportion intended to make load- Marlene McGunigal deploys the ramp for one of TransLink’s as ahighway.Thisportion of road allowanceis781.2 square ing and unloading much new low-floor shuttles in West Van. PHOTO PAUL MCGRATH metres. easier for passengers with mobility challenges. where there are lots of seniors transit authority is looking to TheBylaw closingthe portion of GlenaireDrive and removing its Since Labour Day, there or people with mobility chal- swap them out for these low- have been five “low-floor” lenges. Some feedback we’ve floor models – pending good dedicationwill be considered by Councilatits regularmeetingatthe shuttles serving the C12 Lions heard is that the shuttles we results from the test ongoing District Hall,355 West Queens Road,North Vancouver,on Bay/Caulfeild and the 251 use now can be cumbersome now. October16, 2017at7:00pm. Persons whoconsider they are Queens/Park Royal routes. at times,” said TransLink “Every community is affected by thebylaw will be provided an opportunity to make The main door to the spokesman Chris Bryan. different. Every community representations to Councilatthe meetingorbydeliveringawritten new shuttle has a ramp that Passengers on those routes has different needs. We just extends out, making it easier will probably also notice the want to test this out fully and submission to theMunicipal Clerk by 4pmonthat date. for people with walkers or seats are more comfortable, listen to the feedback we get wheelchairs to get on board. larger windows and more from our customers and the TheDistrict of North Vancouver further givesnoticeofits intentionto If someone is unable to board space in the interior. The have operators as well as our main- transfertoLions Gate Village ProjectLtd.the feesimpleinterestin: using the steps on the existing capacity for 20 people sitting, tenance staff,” Bryan said. community shuttles, they plus two wheelchairs. So far, though, the feed- (a)The ClosedRoad;and, have to use a mechanical lift at Low-floor shuttles are used back has been good. “It feels the rear door. elsewhere in North America like a safer, more expedient (b)The 178.7 squaremetre portion of Lot 54 Block16District lot764 TransLink chose the North but it would be the first time way to get on the bus,” Bryan Plan 8967shownoutlined below and labelledas“Lot 54”, Shore routes to do its due they’ve been included in said. diligence in part because of TransLink fleet. Many of the TransLink is looking to add forthe purposeofconsolidationwiththe immediatelyadjacent lands the demographics here. shuttles are due to be retired another nine next year and belongingtoLions Gate Village ProjectLtd.Thisdispositionis “These shuttles serve areas in the coming years, and the possibly another 49 in 2019. subjecttoadoptionofbylawstorezone and amend theOfficial Community Plan in relation to theproposedconsolidated parcel. Therezoning and OCPamendment bylaws haveyet to be introducedand opportunities forpublic participationand consultation including apublic hearing will be provided priortoCouncil consideringadoptionofthe bylaws.

TheDistrict of North Vancouver will receivethe appraised market valueof$2,100,000 forthe feesimpletitle to theselands.

If youhaveany questions pleasecontactLenia Calico, Property Services Agent,Real Estate and Properties,at604-990-2277or West Vancouver's Most Exclusive Development Site email [email protected]. Arare opportunity to acquire aspectacular 10-acre residential development site in the heart of Canada'smost afﬂuentand exclusive community.The site offers unobstructed south-facingviews located adjacenttoCollingwood'sWentworth Campus, one of BC's top-rated privateschools. Approved Development Permit in place for a29-lot subdivision. Enquiries: Rick Gregory [email protected] 604 306-1006 NVanDistrict @NVanDistrict Audrey Dong [email protected] 778 991-9698 (Nu Stream Realty Inc.) WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2017 north shore news nsnews.com NEWS | A9

Dear Editor: whole will feel its beneficial is a golden opportunity to Re: Mighty Mouse Has ripples. courageously embrace a Mighty Heart: Swimming A fully sanctioned long- future for our community, Legend Talks Life in the Pool course venue will inevitably celebrating and supporting Lane, Aug. 27 Sunday Focus. elevate the North Shore’s all its possibilities rather First of all, thank-you opportunities to seek and than to potentially limit it to the North Shore News host provincial, national by focusing on an arbitrary editors and to reporter Ben and international sporting figure posted on a bottom Bengtson for the wonderful events. Having a permanent line. Personally, you can feature. first-class facility here will count me in on the bright From my vantage point as also attract high-calibre ath- vision ahead of us! a former Olympic swimmer, letes and coaches from all Elaine Tanner the current debate over points, inspiring and mentor- Former North Shore resi- building a 25-metre- ver- ing a whole new generation dent and an officer of the sus a 50-metre pool flows of achievers. Therefore, this Order of Canada much deeper than what initially meets the eye on the surface. Election reform gets my vote Of course, the most obvious advantage of having Dear Editor: would indeed give us more a 50-metre Olympic-sized Re: Pro-Rep Pro-am, Sept. compromises based on a facility will go to the thou- 13 Viewpoint true majority, and therefore sands of people who will Great editorial. steady government. enjoy its spacious expanse Proportional representation Max Anderson but also the community as a of voters in the legislature Vancouver ONLINECOMMENT

NSN STORY: Homeless Undercounted, Study Finds, Sept. 29 front page story. Susan James (on Facebook): In one of the highest per capita incomes and real estate in this country it’s downright shameful. The City of North Vancouver has some social housing. More needs to be built. The District has a very limited few. It’s bloody well sad. Coastalbaby (at nsnews.com): Is it really a surprise that no one can live on the North Shore on a $706 monthly government assistance cheque? There are people working full time who can barely afford the cost of living on the North Shore. The report says there are more than 700 homeless in this area and cites’ cost of housing as the primary issue. ... it’s not housing but rather geography. The reality is that Vancouver is the most expensive place to live in Canada and ... the North Shore in particular has some of the most expensive real estate in the world. Let’s be honest and cut to the chase and save a lot of tax dollars “researching” this SPECIALOFFER! issue – there will never be enough “affordable” housing to satiate the demand on the North Shore – ever. Define “affordable.” ... I would think $1,200 a month for a one-bedroom in this area would be affordable, or at least reasonable ... what do you think the odds are of 300 or 400 units materializing here for $1,200 or less per month? The honest answer is they never are. Again – it’s geography. Of course we want diversity in the community but we can only sustain so much with local tax dollars and the available land. If I lose my job tomorrow and MOMʼSTHE WORD 3: NEST ½ EMPTY can’t make my mortgage, I’m going to have to move to a less expensive zip code ... The North Shore isn’t ever going to ... adequately house and support (more than 700 homeless people) for the long term. ... Be smart and pool resources with other neighbouring municipalities Oct. 6, 7:30 pm /Oct.7,2pm and address the issue as a whole to create a more feasible and sustainable solution to help restore dignity and independence to these folks that so desperately need it. Tickets: $29–$50 Saturday matinee performance only! NSN STORY: Wheels Turn as CNV Mulls Bicycle Race, Oct. 1 community story. Cam Stokes (on Facebook): It would be a great race to bring to North Vancouver. If they can do it on Hastings in Burnaby, Water Street in Gastown, in Delta and Coquitlam, I’m sure we could find a route for a race. Ryan Michael (on Facebook): Nope. CNV does not have the proper road infrastructure to handle closing off city streets and roads whilst the race is occurring. Until they first have built out the roads to allow for proper detours and capacity handling, this is folly. Follow us and have your say: Facebook: North Shore News, Twitter: @NorthShoreNews Should Canada take drastic action to stem climate change? Q Yes, our survival depends No, there’s no sense in on making major changes. costly measures while the U.S. cuts regulations. Cast and creators of Mom’s the Word 3: Nest ½Empty. Photo credit: Emily Cooper HAVE YOUR SAY by taking part in our web poll at nsnews.com. Check back next Wednesday for the results. LAST WEEK 75% 25% WE ASKED YOU: Yes, we need regulations No, overregulation will ruin Should Uber drivers under- to ensure the roads are the ride-share industry. 2017/18 Season Sponsor PLAYSeries Sponsor Performance Sponsors go the same training as taxi safe. 17170000 Ma Mathersthers Avenue drivers? (based on 155 votes) West VancouancouvverBC One-stop youth services facility officially opens More than 15 community partners ready to lend support http://www.nsnews.com/news/one-stop-youth-services-facility-officially-opens-1.22946192

Ben Bengtson / North Shore News

September 23, 2017 07:30 AM

Minister of Mental Health and Addiction Judy Darcy converses with peer support worker Yvana Avram at the newly opened Foundry North Shore on Friday. photo Mike Wakefield, North Shore News

A one-stop shop for youth services could be the solution for young people normally put off by the often demoralizing effort required to shuffle from building to building in order to seek help.

That was the message behind the official opening of Foundry North Shore on Friday, a Vancouver Coastal Health-operated facility comprised of more than 15 existing social programs and services that will operate under one roof. related

 Foundry youth centre seeks donors  North Shore to get ‘one-stop shop’ for youth

“We want to empower young people to lead healthy lives by providing easy access to the tools, resources and skills that they need to achieve wellness,” said Pamela Liversidge, Foundry’s director of policy and partnerships, at a media event hosted at the facility. “We will help to bridge gaps and remove barriers in systems by providing and bringing together several service providers under one roof so that young people and families can access the care that they need when they need it.”

The 9,000-square-foot facility, located at 211 West First St. in Lower Lonsdale, had a soft opening in July and has now officially opened its doors. The Foundry opening means the North Shore joins a select number of municipalities across B.C. that get to offer the program after first applying to host a centre last year.

Foundry centres have also had soft openings in Campbell River, Kelowna and Prince George, and a facility in Abbotsford is expected to open next year.

Some of the community partners that have signed on to provide a whole host of youth services and supports include the Canadian Mental Health Association, Family Services of the North Shore, Hollyburn Family Services, North Shore Neighbourhood House, and several others.

Judy Darcy, minister of mental health and addiction, a provincial position that was created this year after the B.C. NDP came to power, spoke of Foundry’s opening on the North Shore as a “beacon of hope.”

“The four centres that are already opened now are making a tremendous difference in the lives of many youth and we need more of them,” Darcy said. “Young people who are struggling with mental health or addiction are looking for a safe place, a barrier-free place, a judgment-free place, and an accepting place to find the support that they need and the new Foundry North Shore will help them get back to a path of wellness.”

Vancouver Coastal Health will be providing $2.5 million in annual funding to help operate Foundry North Shore.

The facilities are expected to serve between 1,200 and 2,500 young people per year, depending on the size of the community.

Yvana Avram, a 19-year-old peer support worker at Foundry North Shore, spoke about how when she was younger she was unsure what to do regarding her feelings of depression. Now that Foundry North Shore has officially opened, she said she was confident youth who are in crisis or unsure what to do would have an accessible site for their concerns to be heard.

“I think it’s wonderful that we have this storefront-approach and we have a drop-in approach,” she said. “I know for me as a peer support worker, now being able to help and support those youth who are walking through those doors, who maybe don’t know what they need, it’s incredible.”

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 8, 2017 north shore news nsnews.com NEWS | A9

Dear Editor: through ICBC. There is a great may be left with the mistaken Re: NDP Steers ICBC deal of literature available impression that repair shops Property Away From Possible through ICBC on this fact as are benefitting from these con- Sale, Sept. 13 news story. they insist they are unable to ditions. Margins to our small I am writing in response to even discuss any issues relat- business repair shops are very your recent article. My name ing to rates with industry due small and many shops struggle is Ken McCormack and I am to what they claim are restric- greatly to remain viable. We the president and CEO of the tive anti-competition laws. have advocated to govern- B.C. Automotive Retailers Rates paid to our industry ment for years to rectify the Association, an association are determined at the sole unreasonable rates paid to that represents among others, discretion of ICBC, with limited shops for these repairs. the aftermarket vehicle repair or no input from industry While repair costs are sector in B.C. that takes into consideration actually rising for ICBC, those The ARA and our mem- the true costs of repairing increases are the direct result bers take exception to the vehicles, and many of our of more expensive vehicles on incomplete reporting of the shops have had little or no B.C. roads and the high cost of escalating vehicle repair costs rate increases for as much as replacement parts. in B.C. two decades. Repair shops are not the According to your article, We are an industry that ones receiving the benefits Annette Toth, from the union is dependent on ICBC for the from these escalating costs. representing ICBC staff stated vast majority of vehicle repair We are, in fact, one more sup- that auto body shops have work done in this province plier to ICBC that has been been allowed to control repair and the relationship is neglected as they focus their costs. This is completely extremely unbalanced. efforts on other government incorrect. When combined with priorities. We have been heavy Industry has no ability former Minister Todd Stone’s subsidizers of ICBC profits at whatsoever to control repair comments that included men- the expense of a sustainable Life’s better here costs or influence rates paid tion of vehicle repair costs industry. to shops on work they do for increasing 30 per cent in the Ken McCormack vehicle owners making claims last two years, your readers Burnaby Our little world no longer the ‘safe place’ it was... or appeared to be In 1951Jim and his bride made the longdrive to Vancouver in ahomemade RV,and they haven’t stopped going on Dear Editor: seems to be that there are no myself down Lonsdale to the Full disclosure: for 26 safety issues here, that Mr. North Vancouver City library adventuressince. As ahobbyisttour guide, Jim’sfavourite years I have been counsel, Crook has taken all the right on 14th and back home again, destination is his hometown,inthe Kootenays,where he under contract and/or on steps in educating and train- but that was some 40-odd an ad hoc basis, to B.C.’s ing his children, and by citing years ago. The world has stillhikesupthe localmountainstopick huckleberries for Ministry of Children and child protection concerns, changed. Standards have his pies. Family Development. These the ministry is being over- changed. As a parent you comments are my own bearing and exemplifying cannot trust other adults to personal views and have no unwarranted state interfer- step in and assist your child That’show it is at MulberryPARC: it’seasy to travelwithout connection to ministry policy, ence in the raising of his should s/he be in need (40- the ties of living on your own.And with PARC Retirement practice, and/or procedure. children. Oh, and children are odd years ago people would I have been reading with far more likely to be hurt in a not have behaved on transit Living’sfocus on maintainingahealthy bodyand mind great interest the articles, car accident than they are on the way they do today). through our IndependentLiving+ program, it’seasy to see op/ed pieces, including your the bus. I too lament how the Helicopter Down (Sept. 6 Funnily enough, no one world is no longer the “safe how life’s just betterhere. Viewpoint), letters to the edi- has mentioned the risk place” it was, or appeared to tor and comments regarding every TransLink passenger be, in years past but neither the news story of the minis- (particularly those not male) am I about to put my young Youcan read Jim’s full storyonline at try’s investigation of Adrian face, of harassment, threats children at risk in some vain parcliving.ca/ilivehere Crook’s children’s riding and violence from other hope that the world will public transit in Vancouver passengers. change as a result. without adult supervision. Yes, at the age of 11 years Michelle B. Fuchs The general consensus I regularly took the bus by Cranbrook, B.C. Call or visit us online to reserve your tour and complimentarylunch. QUOTES OF THE WEEK: Lord help you if you want to do anything past 10 p.m.” CedarSprings PARC |North Vancouver | 604.986.3633

— West Vancouver Chamber of Commerce past president Gabrielle Loren discusses her Summerhill PARC |North Vancouver | 604.980.6525 decision to move from West to North Vancouver (from an Oct. 4 news story). Westerleigh PARC |West Vancouver | 604.922.9888 We would have been too busy looking after our own people who had been buried in a crumbled building.” Mulberry PARC |Burnaby | 604.526.2248

— West Van Police Department Chief Const. Len Goerke explains the benefits of the police moving into a new, seismically sound building (from an Oct. 1 Sunday Focus story).

Wrong species, wrong geography, wrong history.”

— Central Lonsdale resident Bryan May blasts street art depicting a dromedary camel (from an Oct. 6 news story). parcliving.ca LETTER: Public input a valuable part of local governance

North Shore News

September 26, 2017 03:41 PM

file photo Mike Wakefield, North Shore News

Dear Editor:

Re: See What Develops, Sept. 10 Viewpoint. I was astounded by a statement in this editorial: “But the wonder of our democracy is that council is forced to listen to just about anybody who wants to talk.” District of North Vancouver council, insofar as council meetings, has fairly strict rules as to how long (three minutes) an individual can speak, and how long in total (30 minutes) public input is accepted in a given council meeting. Limits in workshops are much stricter. Public hearings are also restricted as to time per speaker, but most anyone can speak. One can also ask to meet any councillor or staff member. In all cases, rules of behaviour are applied. In all cases, written submissions are welcome. Public input is a valuable part of the governing process. Hopefully your use of the word “wonder” was a compliment to council’s process, not a criticism as I took it. Then having apparently criticized council for being “forced” to listen to just about anybody, you encourage residents to “show up in droves” in council chambers. Colour me confused! I disagree with your comment that “Council meetings can resemble an endless slog whose participants speak in incomprehensible bureaucratese.” Yes, some meetings drag on, but are usually terminated by 11 p.m., no worse than corporate and non-profit boards I have sat on. In the 23 years I have attended DNV council meetings, I have never felt inundated in “bureaucratese.” Yes, it helps to learn some of the limited jargon like FSR, Local Government Act, etc., but it sure beats trying to understand your auto mechanic. John Hunter North Vancouver

Editor’s note: The editorial viewpoint was indeed meant to encourage, not discourage, civic engagement. We urge all residents to get informed by attending meetings of council and public hearings, and contacting your elected officials to share your views. North Vancouver RCMP warn of scam targeting desperate renters

Brent Richter / North Shore News

October 7, 2017 07:29 AM

file photo Cindy Goodman, North Shore news

North Vancouver RCMP are warning scammers are taking advantage of the tight rental market to fleece would-be renters.

Police have received several reports of victims being defrauded out of rental deposits after responding to local apartment ads on Craigslist.

People feeling desperate to find a home have been pressured into providing a deposit for a unit, which is not owned by the person advertising it and not actually up for rent. Typically, the actual owners are unaware their homes are being used as bait, according to the RCMP.

“First-time renters and those not familiar with rental rules and laws tend to be easily swayed. Don’t pay any monies up front before you have an opportunity to view and verify the rental unit,” said Cpl. Richard De Jong, North Vancouver RCMP spokesman in a press release.

Warning signs that something may not be above board include rental rates unusually below typical market rates, warning that the suite can’t be viewed, the landlord only communicates via email and refuses to meet in person, and that they demand money up front.

West Vancouver police, meanwhile, are issuing a fresh warning about the infamous “grandparent” scam, after a local senior was nearly taken by it.

The fraud typically involves someone cold-calling a senior and pretending to be one of their grandchildren in distress. Most often they plead for money or some valuable object to be sent in the mail in order to help them get out of trouble – medical expenses or court fees, often in a foreign country.

In August, a West Vancouver woman was duped into buying a $40,000 Rolex watch and sending it to a stranger in Quebec. On Monday this week, a Park Royal jeweller called police when a 75-year-old West Vancouver man came in looking to buy a watch he said he needed to help his nephew.

Police intervened and the fraud was halted.

Road pricing best way to reduce vehicle emissions, concludes UBC study

Opportunity for Vancouver to be a leader in sustainable transportation, says UBC professor

By Clare Hennig, CBC News Posted: Oct 05, 2017 6:33 PM PT Last Updated: Oct 05, 2017 6:33 PM PT

Road pricing helps reduce the overall number of cars on the road and improves air quality, a UBC study has found. (Christer Waara/CBC)

Related Stories

 Is road pricing the answer to traffic congestion?  Taxing gridlock: drivers doubt 'mobility pricing' will solve congestion  Tolls to be eliminated on Port Mann and Golden Ears bridges  Surrey drivers targeted for testing U.S. road pricing program

Pay-per-use road pricing is the best way to reduce air pollution from traffic, a new study from the University of British Columbia has found. The traffic management strategy charges drivers for using the roads, and, so the argument goes, the extra cost encourages people to think twice before getting behind the wheel. Alexander Bigazzi, a UBC transportation expert and civil engineering professor, said a combination of road pricing and low emission zones leads to better air quality, because, overall, it leads to fewer cars on the road. "The important thing about these strategies is they reduce, not just the amount of congestion, but also the amount of driving," said Bigazzi. Bigazzi said his research, which looked at more than 60 studies on the topic, showed that people are more likely to take public transit or reduce the number of their trips when they have to pay to use the roads. Growing in popularity Road pricing strategies have taken off in several European countries but haven't yet been embraced in North America, Bigazzi said, but he thinks it's just a matter of time. "We are very used to what seems to be free transportation systems for driving but that is increasingly changing," he said. Although the extra cost for road users is not popular when first introduced, Bigazzi said, his research found public opinion in the European cities with the measures becomes more positive over time. "Opposition always wanes as the project goes on," Bigazzi said. "People start to realize that there are real time- savings." Bigazzi said he will be presenting the research to policymakers and municipalities around the country. "I do believe that road pricing is coming to Vancouver and many cities in North America," he said. "This is a real opportunity for Vancouver to be an innovator and leader in sustainable urban transportation strategies."

EDITORIAL: See what develops

North Shore News

September 10, 2017 06:00 AM

file photo Mike Wakefield, North Shore News

There goes the neighbourhood.

That phrase used to drip with racist overtones. On the North Shore, however, “There goes the neighbourhood” usually means: “there goes my parking spot and my view.”

 LETTER: Public input a valuable part of local governance

From Marine Drive to Upper Lonsdale to Lynn Valley, the future of our neighbourhoods is up for debate. With decent housing found rarely and sold dearly, councils often turn to developers who promise their projects will help push slumping vacancy rates to the left side of the decimal point. And as their towers rise, our governments struggle to manufacture affordable housing amidst rocketing property values without sapping the quality of life from established residents or stealing needed industrial land. Mayors and councillors are accused of only listening to developers. And when developments are pitched – by the old Harry Jerome site, along Marine Drive in West Vancouver, or at Emery Village – council will listen to the developers. But the wonder of our democracy is that council is forced to listen to just about anyone who wants to talk. Council meetings can resemble an endless slog whose participants speak in incomprehensible bureaucratese. But it’s at the end of that slog that the future will be decided. The next municipal election is a year away. In the meantime, if you want to exercise democracy, you’ll have to do it in council chambers. Democracy doesn’t mean you’ll get what you want, but it does mean you can ask for it. As councils resume Monday, we encourage residents to get informed and attend, to show up in droves so big that an onlooker might remark: “There goes the neighbourhood.”

Seven elementary expansions on North Vancouver school district wish list

Jane Seyd / North Shore News

October 3, 2017 04:01 PM

Classroom space inside a modular portable building at Ridgeway Elementary. photo Kevin Hill, North Shore News

New limits to classroom sizes are adding to expansion pressures on schools in North Vancouver that could cost the province over $22 million over the next six to 10 years.

The figures are among those the North Vancouver school district recently provided to the ministry of education as an estimate of how enrolment pressures and restored class size and composition limits could impact the district’s five-year capital plan.

Projects like a new elementary school for Lower Lonsdale – estimated at more than $27 million including land costs – and expansions of both Argyle and Carson Graham secondary schools remain at the top of the school district’s priority list for capital projects.

But new class size limits combined with increasing enrolment means expansions will also likely be needed for a number of elementary schools – including Lynn Valley, Highlands, Westview, Queen Mary, Cove Cliff, Upper Lynn and Boundary – according to a recent report by Jim Mackenzie, director of facilities for the school district. Cost estimates for the projects range from $1.75 million to expand the capacity of Boundary Elementary by 50 students to more than $4.1 million to expand Queen Mary’s capacity by 100 students.

If approved for funding by the province, the projects would be completed over several years and may also involve placing portables on the sites as a temporary measure, said Mackenzie.

There are currently 39 portables on-site at 15 North Vancouver schools. Of those, many have been in place for years, while seven were added in the past year in response to new class size and composition limits.

The number of portables at each site ranges from one to a high of five.

Recently, the school district tried to convince the ministry to build capacity for an additional 200 students into the design for the rebuild of Argyle Secondary, but that was rejected. As a result, that increase – projected to cost about $6 million – will have to be considered by the ministry at a later date when enrolment increases, said Mackenzie.

An expansion of Carson Graham to create capacity for 250 more students – due to both enrolment and class size limits – is also high on the school district’s wish list with a preliminary price tag of almost $12 million.

School district officials are also continuing to discuss with the ministry their request for a rebuild of Handsworth Secondary.

Georgia Allison, secretary treasurer for the school district, cautioned school trustees that all of the new builds and expansion projects on the five-year capital plan are essentially a wish list.

The cost of all projects on the North Vancouver school district’s wish list currently totals more than $65 million.

‘Smaller’ earthquakes pose greater risk than the next Big One SFU's John Clague says seismic microzonation study needed for the Lower Mainland

John Goodman / North Shore News

October 6, 2017 05:28 PM

A ghost forest of dead red cedars stands along the banks of the Copalis River in Washington state. The grove is one of the clues that led scientists to reassess their understanding of the potential size of earthquakes that can be generated in the Cascadia Subduction Zone off the Pacific Northwest Coast. Photo Supplied, Brian Atwater, 1997, United States Geological Survey

“When the next very big earthquake hits, the northwest edge of the continent, from California to Canada and the continental shelf to the Cascades, will drop by as much as six feet and rebound thirty to a hundred feet to the west – losing, within minutes, all the elevation and compression it has gained over centuries. Some of that shift will take place beneath the ocean, displacing a colossal quantity of seawater. The water will surge upward into a huge hill, then promptly collapse. One side will rush west, toward Japan. The other side will rush east, in a seven-hundred-mile liquid wall that will reach the Northwest coast, on average, 15 minutes after the earthquake begins. By the time the shaking has ceased and the tsunami has receded, the region will be unrecognizable.”

– “The Really Big One” by Kathryn Schulz, The New Yorker, July 20, 2015

John Clague, Department of Earth Sciences, Simon Fraser University, speaks at the Parkgate branch of the North Vancouver District Library on Wednesday, Oct. 11 at 7 p.m. about Earthquake Hazards and Risks on Canada’s West Coast.

Thunderbird meets Killer Whale at the confluence of sea and sky. They do battle, over and over again as they have for millennia.

Squamish Nation member Latash–Maurice Nahanee relates the traditional stories of his people to the Squamish Valley landscape he is intimately familiar with. He associates stories about Thunderbird and Killer Whale with Black Tusk mountain, a subduction zone stratovolcano in the Garibaldi Volcanic Belt, the northernmost segment of the Cascadia Volcanic Belt, which includes Mount St. Helens. In the Squamish language, Black Tusk is known as t’ak’t’ak mu’yin tl’a in7in’a’xe7en – “Landing Place of the Thunderbird.” The Squamish tell of major disasters and great loss of life connected to earthquakes and landslides that have taken place in the Rubble Creek area. “The Killer Whale was terrifying our people by coming up on the beach and eating all the Squamish people,” says Latash. “Thunderbird got mad at him and flew down and captured that whale and started shaking the whale, and all these bones came out of the whale. The people saw their relatives and started putting all these bones together, and they did some magic and all those bones became people again.” In the oral traditions of Coast Salish cultures and other Pacific Northwest First Nations, Thunderbird and Killer Whale tales relate specifically and metaphorically to past catastrophic events even though they are presented in mythical scenarios. They speak of unspeakable things that once took place along the coastal corridor from northern California to southern B.C. Forty times, to be exact, since the last glacial period, according to earth scientists. Nineteen of which were full rupture 9.0 megathrust earthquakes along the 1,000-kilometre Cascadia Subduction Zone (CSZ), the last of which took place on Jan. 26, 1700 at 9 p.m. Up until recent decades, no one thought earthquakes of such magnitude could occur in the Pacific Northwest. But thanks to research by American, Japanese and Canadian scientists, geological knowledge of what the CSZ is capable of has changed considerably. We know the date of the last megathrust earthquake in the CSZ because of an orphan tsunami that hit Japan in the winter of 1700. Local records documented widespread damage although at the time they did not know what had caused the massive ocean wave action. In the 1990s Japanese scientists, including Kenji Satake of the Geological Survey of Japan, were tipped off to look back in the historical records after learning of the work of geologist Brian Atwater, endocrinologist David Yamaguchi and other researchers associated with the University of Washington. They determined through analysis of soil deposits in ancient marshes in estuaries on the Washington state coastline that a cataclysmic earthquake had occurred in the not too distant past. Meticulous Japanese tsunami records not only concurred with that finding, they also narrowed it down to the day and hour that the ocean wave struck their coastline. During the late ’80s and ’90s, SFU professor John Clague worked with a team on the Canadian side of the border to confirm the CSZ evidence found by his colleagues in the U.S. and Japan. “Brian Atwater stimulated a lot of interest in this problem,” says Clague. “Prior to that there was really very little appreciation that we get these extraordinarily large earthquakes. A number of geologists took it upon themselves to provide additional evidence for this earthquake.” Clague did most of his research on Vancouver Island, particularly along the west coast in Tofino, Ucluelet, as well as in Victoria and up island towards Gold River. “The evidence that we found was that during these earthquakes, the level of the land shifts along our coast and the Washington and Oregon coast,” he says. “The land drops down suddenly during an earthquake and so a very good place to document that geologically is along the shoreline because you record that down-dropping of the surface of the earth in the layering in the coastal sediments that you see in these areas. “That was really what Brian Atwater had found was this sudden evidence of down-dropping. In addition, the bigger quakes – and we’ve seen this in very similar big earthquakes over the past 20 years in the Indian Ocean and Japan and Chile – they produce tsunamis and the tsunamis also leave evidence in the geologic record in the form of layers of sand and gravel that are transported landward from the sea and left in these coastal environments.” Clague will go into detail about his research work at the Parkgate branch of the North Vancouver District Library next Wednesday, Oct. 11 at 7 p.m. in a talk entitled “Earthquake Hazards and Risks on Canada’s West Coast.” While the CSZ danger is real and will eventually happen, Clague says the risk of more frequent, magnitude 6 and 7 crustal earthquakes, is even greater than that of the much larger, but rarer magnitude 9 events. “The public doesn’t fully appreciate the biggest ones are not the biggest problem in my mind,” says Clague. “They are very rare and only occur on average every 500 or 600 years. If one does occur it’s big trouble, but because they are so rare the risk is actually lower than the average person might expect it would be.” Recent earthquakes, like those that hit Mexico City in the summer and Christchurch, New Zealand, in 2011, pose far greater risks to urban populations, according to Clague. “These are much smaller earthquakes but they can have sources and epicentres very close to our cities. In the magnitude 9 earthquakes, the sources are offshore so the energy that’s released by that earthquake is huge but it tends to diminish as the earthquake waves move inland from the sea floor.” Earthquakes occur along fault lines. Once you’ve identified the faults that potentially could slip during an earthquake, then you know where the source is. “The waves that produce damage radiate out from the source,” says Clague. “When you think about Richmond, the North Shore of Vancouver, Burnaby, they are not going to be significantly different in terms of distance from the epicentre. What does differ is the intensity of shaking caused by our local geology and our local topography. There are places in Metro Vancouver that are going to experience higher levels of ground shaking than others.” Determining the effects of an earthquake on different areas of the Lower Mainland would be greatly enhanced by a seismic microzonation study, says Clague. It’s something that has been done in Victoria and Seattle but not Vancouver. “I think that’s almost criminal that it hasn’t been done,” says Clague. “When you look at the potential damage from an earthquake to a city of over two million people, we need to know how different the shaking is going to be in different parts of the city. It’s controlled by the subsurface soils, the sediments that underlie the ground surface.” Low-lying areas of the Lower Mainland are highly susceptible to liquefaction. Loose water-saturated sediments completely lose their strength when they are shaken and will behave like a liquid. “On the North Shore they are typically associated with the river deltas where the rivers come into the sea,” says Clague. “The Capilano river delta down near the Lions Gate Bridge, the mouth of the Seymour River, parts of the industrial area that lie along the shoreline are all on liquefiable soils.” Newer buildings are generally designed to minimize the impact of liquefaction, but buried gas lines, fibre optic cables, sewer lines and water lines are an entirely different level of problem when considering the effects of ground shaking. “You cannot prepare the soils to deal with that linear infrastructure over large areas,” says Clague. “That would be damaged by liquefaction during an earthquake. We really need to try to improve our critical infrastructure and I consider buried utilities critical infrastructure. “Seismic microzonation is baseline documentation. It won’t tell you when an earthquake will occur or how big it will be, but it will show us the difference in the intensity of shaking within the Metro Vancouver area. And that’s maybe $100,000 to $300,000 investment. It sounds like a lot, but it isn’t really.”

Annals of Seismology July 20, 2015 Issue The Really Big One An earthquake will destroy a sizable portion of the coastal Northwest. The question is when.

By Kathryn Schulz

The next full-margin rupture of the Cascadia subduction zone will spell the worst natural disaster in the history of the continent.

Illustration by Christoph Niemann; Map by Ziggymaj / Getty

When the 2011 earthquake and tsunami struck Tohoku, Japan, Chris Goldfinger was two hundred miles away, in the city of Kashiwa, at an international meeting on seismology. As the shaking started, everyone in the room began to laugh. Earthquakes are common in Japan—that one was the third of the week—and the participants were, after all, at a seismology conference. Then everyone in the room checked the time.

Seismologists know that how long an earthquake lasts is a decent proxy for its magnitude. The 1989 earthquake in Loma Prieta, California, which killed sixty-three people and caused six billion dollars’ worth of damage, lasted about fifteen seconds and had a magnitude of 6.9. A thirty-second earthquake generally has a magnitude in the mid-sevens. A minute- long quake is in the high sevens, a two- minute quake has entered the eights, and a three-minute quake is in the high eights. By four minutes, an earthquake has hit magnitude 9.0. When Goldfinger looked at his watch, it was quarter to three. The conference was wrapping up for the day. He was thinking about sushi. The speaker at the lectern was wondering if he should carry on with his talk. The earthquake was not particularly strong. Then it ticked past the sixty-second mark, making it longer than the others that week. The shaking intensified. The seats in the conference room were small plastic desks with wheels. Goldfinger, who is tall and solidly built, thought, No way am I crouching under one of those for cover. At a minute and a half, everyone in the room got up and went outside.

It was March. There was a chill in the air, and snow flurries, but no snow on the ground. Nor, from the feel of it, was there ground on the ground. The earth snapped and popped and rippled. It was, Goldfinger thought, like driving through rocky terrain in a vehicle with no shocks, if both the vehicle and the terrain were also on a raft in high seas. The quake passed the two-minute mark. The trees, still hung with the previous autumn’s dead leaves, were making a strange rattling sound. The flagpole atop the building he and his colleagues had just vacated was whipping through an arc of forty degrees. The building itself was base-isolated, a seismic-safety technology in which the body of a structure rests on movable bearings rather than directly on its foundation. Goldfinger lurched over to take a look. The base was lurching, too, back and forth a foot at a time, digging a trench in the yard. He thought better of it, and lurched away. His watch swept past the three-minute mark and kept going.

Oh, shit, Goldfinger thought, although not in dread, at first: in amazement. For decades, seismologists had believed that Japan could not experience an earthquake stronger than magnitude 8.4. In 2005, however, at a conference in Hokudan, a Japanese geologist named Yasutaka Ikeda had argued that the nation should expect a magnitude 9.0 in the near future—with catastrophic consequences, because Japan’s famous earthquake-and- tsunami preparedness, including the height of its sea walls, was based on incorrect science. The presentation was met with polite applause and thereafter largely ignored. Now, Goldfinger realized as the shaking hit the four-minute mark, the planet was proving the Japanese Cassandra right.

For a moment, that was pretty cool: a real-time revolution in earthquake science. Almost immediately, though, it became extremely uncool, because Goldfinger and every other seismologist standing outside in Kashiwa knew what was coming. One of them pulled out a cell phone and started streaming videos from the Japanese broadcasting station NHK, shot by helicopters that had flown out to sea soon after the shaking started. Thirty minutes after Goldfinger first stepped outside, he watched the tsunami roll in, in real time, on a two-inch screen.

In the end, the magnitude-9.0 Tohoku earthquake and subsequent tsunami killed more than eighteen thousand people, devastated northeast Japan, triggered the meltdown at the Fukushima power plant, and cost an estimated two hundred and twenty billion dollars. The shaking earlier in the week turned out to be the foreshocks of the largest earthquake in the nation’s recorded history. But for Chris Goldfinger, a paleoseismologist at Oregon State University and one of the world’s leading experts on a little-known fault line, the main quake was itself a kind of foreshock: a preview of another earthquake still to come.

Most people in the United States know just one fault line by name: the San Andreas, which runs nearly the length of California and is perpetually rumored to be on the verge of unleashing “the big one.” That rumor is misleading, no matter what the San Andreas ever does. Every fault line has an upper limit to its potency, determined by its length and width, and by how far it can slip. For the San Andreas, one of the most extensively studied and best understood fault lines in the world, that upper limit is roughly an 8.2—a powerful earthquake, but, because the Richter scale is logarithmic, only six per cent as strong as the 2011 event in Japan.

“Perhaps I’ve said too much.”

Just north of the San Andreas, however, lies another fault line. Known as the Cascadia subduction zone, it runs for seven hundred miles off the coast of the Pacific Northwest, beginning near Cape Mendocino, California, continuing along Oregon and Washington, and terminating around Vancouver Island, Canada. The “Cascadia” part of its name comes from the Cascade Range, a chain of volcanic mountains that follow the same course a hundred or so miles inland. The “subduction zone” part refers to a region of the planet where one tectonic plate is sliding underneath (subducting) another. Tectonic plates are those slabs of mantle and crust that, in their epochs-long drift, rearrange the earth’s continents and oceans. Most of the time, their movement is slow, harmless, and all but undetectable. Occasionally, at the borders where they meet, it is not.

Take your hands and hold them palms down, middle fingertips touching. Your right hand represents the North American tectonic plate, which bears on its back, among other things, our entire continent, from One World Trade Center to the Space Needle, in Seattle. Your left hand represents an oceanic plate called Juan de Fuca, ninety thousand square miles in size. The place where they meet is the Cascadia subduction zone. Now slide your left hand under your right one. That is what the Juan de Fuca plate is doing: slipping steadily beneath North America. When you try it, your right hand will slide up your left arm, as if you were pushing up your sleeve. That is what North America is not doing. It is stuck, wedged tight against the surface of the other plate.

Without moving your hands, curl your right knuckles up, so that they point toward the ceiling. Under pressure from Juan de Fuca, the stuck edge of North America is bulging upward and compressing eastward, at the rate of, respectively, three to four millimetres and thirty to forty millimetres a year. It can do so for quite some time, because, as continent stuff goes, it is young, made of rock that is still relatively elastic. (Rocks, like us, get stiffer as they age.) But it cannot do so indefinitely. There is a backstop—the craton, that ancient unbudgeable mass at the center of the continent—and, sooner or later, North America will rebound like a spring. If, on that occasion, only the southern part of the Cascadia subduction zone gives way—your first two fingers, say—the magnitude of the resulting quake will be somewhere between 8.0 and 8.6. That’s the big one. If the entire zone gives way at once, an event that seismologists call a full-margin rupture, the magnitude will be somewhere between 8.7 and 9.2. That’s the very big one.

Flick your right fingers outward, forcefully, so that your hand flattens back down again. When the next very big earthquake hits, the northwest edge of the continent, from California to Canada and the continental shelf to the Cascades, will drop by as much as six feet and rebound thirty to a hundred feet to the west—losing, within minutes, all the elevation and compression it has gained over centuries. Some of that shift will take place beneath the ocean, displacing a colossal quantity of seawater. (Watch what your fingertips do when you flatten your hand.) The water will surge upward into a huge hill, then promptly collapse. One side will rush west, toward Japan. The other side will rush east, in a seven-hundred-mile liquid wall that will reach the Northwest coast, on average, fifteen minutes after the earthquake begins. By the time the shaking has ceased and the tsunami has receded, the region will be unrecognizable. Kenneth Murphy, who directs FEMA’s Region X, the division responsible for Oregon, Washington, Idaho, and Alaska, says, “Our operating assumption is that everything west of Interstate 5 will be toast.”

In the Pacific Northwest, the area of impact will cover* some hundred and forty thousand square miles, including Seattle, Tacoma, Portland, Eugene, Salem (the capital city of Oregon), Olympia (the capital of Washington), and some seven million people. When the next full-margin rupture happens, that region will suffer the worst natural disaster in the history of North America. Roughly three thousand people died in San Francisco’s 1906 earthquake. Almost two thousand died in Hurricane Katrina. Almost three hundred died in Hurricane Sandy. FEMA projects that nearly thirteen thousand people will die in the Cascadia earthquake and tsunami. Another twenty-seven thousand will be injured, and the agency expects that it will need to provide shelter for a million displaced people, and food and water for another two and a half million. “This is one time that I’m hoping all the science is wrong, and it won’t happen for another thousand years,” Murphy says.

In fact, the science is robust, and one of the chief scientists behind it is Chris Goldfinger. Thanks to work done by him and his colleagues, we now know that the odds of the big Cascadia earthquake happening in the next fifty years are roughly one in three. The odds of the very big one are roughly one in ten. Even those numbers do not fully reflect the danger—or, more to the point, how unprepared the Pacific Northwest is to face it. The truly worrisome figures in this story are these: Thirty years ago, no one knew that the Cascadia subduction zone had ever produced a major earthquake. Forty-five years ago, no one even knew it existed.

“I’ll do what everybody does—sell this startup just before we have to hire a female employee.” In May of 1804, Meriwether Lewis and William Clark, together with their Corps of Discovery, set off from St. Louis on America’s first official cross-country expedition. Eighteen months later, they reached the Pacific Ocean and made camp near the present-day town of Astoria, Oregon. The United States was, at the time, twenty-nine years old. Canada was not yet a country. The continent’s far expanses were so unknown to its white explorers that Thomas Jefferson, who commissioned the journey, thought that the men would come across woolly mammoths. Native Americans had lived in the Northwest for millennia, but they had no written language, and the many things to which the arriving Europeans subjected them did not include seismological inquiries. The newcomers took the land they encountered at face value, and at face value it was a find: vast, cheap, temperate, fertile, and, to all appearances, remarkably benign.

A century and a half elapsed before anyone had any inkling that the Pacific Northwest was not a quiet place but a place in a long period of quiet. It took another fifty years to uncover and interpret the region’s seismic history. Geology, as even geologists will tell you, is not normally the sexiest of disciplines; it hunkers down with earthly stuff while the glory accrues to the human and the cosmic—to genetics, neuroscience, physics. But, sooner or later, every field has its field day, and the discovery of the Cascadia subduction zone stands as one of the greatest scientific detective stories of our time.

The first clue came from geography. Almost all of the world’s most powerful earthquakes occur in the Ring of Fire, the volcanically and seismically volatile swath of the Pacific that runs from New Zealand up through Indonesia and Japan, across the ocean to Alaska, and down the west coast of the Americas to Chile. Japan, 2011, magnitude 9.0; Indonesia, 2004, magnitude 9.1; Alaska, 1964, magnitude 9.2; Chile, 1960, magnitude 9.5—not until the late nineteen-sixties, with the rise of the theory of plate tectonics, could geologists explain this pattern. The Ring of Fire, it turns out, is really a ring of subduction zones. Nearly all the earthquakes in the region are caused by continental plates getting stuck on oceanic plates—as North America is stuck on Juan de Fuca—and then getting abruptly unstuck. And nearly all the volcanoes are caused by the oceanic plates sliding deep beneath the continental ones, eventually reaching temperatures and pressures so extreme that they melt the rock above them.

The Pacific Northwest sits squarely within the Ring of Fire. Off its coast, an oceanic plate is slipping beneath a continental one. Inland, the Cascade volcanoes mark the line where, far below, the Juan de Fuca plate is heating up and melting everything above it. In other words, the Cascadia subduction zone has, as Goldfinger put it, “all the right anatomical parts.” Yet not once in recorded history has it caused a major earthquake—or, for that matter, any quake to speak of. By contrast, other subduction zones produce major earthquakes occasionally and minor ones all the time: magnitude 5.0, magnitude 4.0, magnitude why are the neighbors moving their sofa at midnight. You can scarcely spend a week in Japan without feeling this sort of earthquake. You can spend a lifetime in many parts of the Northwest—several, in fact, if you had them to spend—and not feel so much as a quiver. The question facing geologists in the nineteen-seventies was whether the Cascadia subduction zone had ever broken its eerie silence.

In the late nineteen-eighties, Brian Atwater, a geologist with the United States Geological Survey, and a graduate student named David Yamaguchi found the answer, and another major clue in the Cascadia puzzle. Their discovery is best illustrated in a place called the ghost forest, a grove of western red cedars on the banks of the Copalis River, near the Washington coast. When I paddled out to it last summer, with Atwater and Yamaguchi, it was easy to see how it got its name. The cedars are spread out across a low salt marsh on a wide northern bend in the river, long dead but still standing. Leafless, branchless, barkless, they are reduced to their trunks and worn to a smooth silver-gray, as if they had always carried their own tombstones inside them.

What killed the trees in the ghost forest was saltwater. It had long been assumed that they died slowly, as the sea level around them gradually rose and submerged their roots. But, by 1987, Atwater, who had found in soil layers evidence of sudden land subsidence along the Washington coast, suspected that that was backward—that the trees had died quickly when the ground beneath them plummeted. To find out, he teamed up with Yamaguchi, a specialist in dendrochronology, the study of growth-ring patterns in trees. Yamaguchi took samples of the cedars and found that they had died simultaneously: in tree after tree, the final rings dated to the summer of 1699. Since trees do not grow in the winter, he and Atwater concluded that sometime between August of 1699 and May of 1700 an earthquake had caused the land to drop and killed the cedars. That time frame predated by more than a hundred years the written history of the Pacific Northwest—and so, by rights, the detective story should have ended there.

But it did not. If you travel five thousand miles due west from the ghost forest, you reach the northeast coast of Japan. As the events of 2011 made clear, that coast is vulnerable to tsunamis, and the Japanese have kept track of them since at least 599 A.D. In that fourteen-hundred-year history, one incident has long stood out for its strangeness. On the eighth day of the twelfth month of the twelfth year of the Genroku era, a six-hundred-mile-long wave struck the coast, levelling homes, breaching a castle moat, and causing an accident at sea. The Japanese understood that tsunamis were the result of earthquakes, yet no one felt the ground shake before the Genroku event. The wave had no discernible origin. When scientists began studying it, they called it an orphan tsunami.

Finally, in a 1996 article in Nature, a seismologist named Kenji Satake and three colleagues, drawing on the work of Atwater and Yamaguchi, matched that orphan to its parent—and thereby filled in the blanks in the Cascadia story with uncanny specificity. At approximately nine o’ clock at night on January 26, 1700, a magnitude-9.0 earthquake struck the Pacific Northwest, causing sudden land subsidence, drowning coastal forests, and, out in the ocean, lifting up a wave half the length of a continent. It took roughly fifteen minutes for the Eastern half of that wave to strike the Northwest coast. It took ten hours for the other half to cross the ocean. It reached Japan on January 27, 1700: by the local calendar, the eighth day of the twelfth month of the twelfth year of Genroku.

Once scientists had reconstructed the 1700 earthquake, certain previously overlooked accounts also came to seem like clues. In 1964, Chief Louis Nookmis, of the Huu-ay-aht First Nation, in British Columbia, told a story, passed down through seven generations, about the eradication of Vancouver Island’s Pachena Bay people. “I think it was at nighttime that the land shook,” Nookmis recalled. According to another tribal history, “They sank at once, were all drowned; not one survived.” A hundred years earlier, Billy Balch, a leader of the Makah tribe, recounted a similar story. Before his own time, he said, all the water had receded from Washington State’s Neah Bay, then suddenly poured back in, inundating the entire region. Those who survived later found canoes hanging from the trees. In a 2005 study, Ruth Ludwin, then a seismologist at the University of Washington, together with nine colleagues, collected and analyzed Native American reports of earthquakes and saltwater floods. Some of those reports contained enough information to estimate a date range for the events they described. On average, the midpoint of that range was 1701.

It does not speak well of European-Americans that such stories counted as evidence for a proposition only after that proposition had been proved. Still, the reconstruction of the Cascadia earthquake of 1700 is one of those rare natural puzzles whose pieces fit together as tectonic plates do not: perfectly. It is wonderful science. It was wonderful for science. And it was terrible news for the millions of inhabitants of the Pacific Northwest. As Goldfinger put it, “In the late eighties and early nineties, the paradigm shifted to ‘uh-oh.’ ”

Goldfinger told me this in his lab at Oregon State, a low prefab building that a passing English major might reasonably mistake for the maintenance department. Inside the lab is a walk-in freezer. Inside the freezer are floor-to-ceiling racks filled with cryptically labelled tubes, four inches in diameter and five feet long. Each tube contains a core sample of the seafloor. Each sample contains the history, written in seafloorese, of the past ten thousand years. During subduction-zone earthquakes, torrents of land rush off the continental slope, leaving a permanent deposit on the bottom of the ocean. By counting the number and the size of deposits in each sample, then comparing their extent and consistency along the length of the Cascadia subduction zone, Goldfinger and his colleagues were able to determine how much of the zone has ruptured, how often, and how drastically.

Thanks to that work, we now know that the Pacific Northwest has experienced forty-one subduction-zone earthquakes in the past ten thousand years. If you divide ten thousand by forty-one, you get two hundred and forty-three, which is Cascadia’s recurrence interval: the average amount of time that elapses between earthquakes. That timespan is dangerous both because it is too long—long enough for us to unwittingly build an entire civilization on top of our continent’s worst fault line—and because it is not long enough. Counting from the earthquake of 1700, we are now three hundred and fifteen years into a two-hundred-and-forty-three-year cycle.

It is possible to quibble with that number. Recurrence intervals are averages, and averages are tricky: ten is the average of nine and eleven, but also of eighteen and two. It is not possible, however, to dispute the scale of the problem. The devastation in Japan in 2011 was the result of a discrepancy between what the best science predicted and what the region was prepared to withstand. The same will hold true in the Pacific Northwest—but here the discrepancy is enormous. “The science part is fun,” Goldfinger says. “And I love doing it. But the gap between what we know and what we should do about it is getting bigger and bigger, and the action really needs to turn to responding. Otherwise, we’re going to be hammered. I’ve been through one of these massive earthquakes in the most seismically prepared nation on earth. If that was Portland”—Goldfinger finished the sentence with a shake of his head before he finished it with words. “Let’s just say I would rather not be here.”

“This heat is killing me. Let’s get a drink in Little Antarctica.”

The first sign that the Cascadia earthquake has begun will be a compressional wave, radiating outward from the fault line. Compressional waves are fast-moving, high-frequency waves, audible to dogs and certain other animals but experienced by humans only as a sudden jolt. They are not very harmful, but they are potentially very useful, since they travel fast enough to be detected by sensors thirty to ninety seconds ahead of other seismic waves. That is enough time for earthquake early-warning systems, such as those in use throughout Japan, to automatically perform a variety of lifesaving functions: shutting down railways and power plants, opening elevators and firehouse doors, alerting hospitals to halt surgeries, and triggering alarms so that the general public can take cover. The Pacific Northwest has no early-warning system. When the Cascadia earthquake begins, there will be, instead, a cacophony of barking dogs and a long, suspended, what-was-that moment before the surface waves arrive. Surface waves are slower, lower-frequency waves that move the ground both up and down and side to side: the shaking, starting in earnest.

Soon after that shaking begins, the electrical grid will fail, likely everywhere west of the Cascades and possibly well beyond. If it happens at night, the ensuing catastrophe will unfold in darkness. In theory, those who are at home when it hits should be safest; it is easy and relatively inexpensive to seismically safeguard a private dwelling. But, lulled into nonchalance by their seemingly benign environment, most people in the Pacific Northwest have not done so. That nonchalance will shatter instantly. So will everything made of glass. Anything indoors and unsecured will lurch across the floor or come crashing down: bookshelves, lamps, computers, cannisters of flour in the pantry. Refrigerators will walk out of kitchens, unplugging themselves and toppling over. Water heaters will fall and smash interior gas lines. Houses that are not bolted to their foundations will slide off—or, rather, they will stay put, obeying inertia, while the foundations, together with the rest of the Northwest, jolt westward. Unmoored on the undulating ground, the homes will begin to collapse.

Across the region, other, larger structures will also start to fail. Until 1974, the state of Oregon had no seismic code, and few places in the Pacific Northwest had one appropriate to a magnitude-9.0 earthquake until 1994. The vast majority of buildings in the region were constructed before then. Ian Madin, who directs the Oregon Department of Geology and Mineral Industries (DOGAMI), estimates that seventy-five per cent of all structures in the state are not designed to withstand a major Cascadia quake. FEMA calculates that, across the region, something on the order of a million buildings—more than three thousand of them schools—will collapse or be compromised in the earthquake. So will half of all highway bridges, fifteen of the seventeen bridges spanning Portland’s two rivers, and two-thirds of railways and airports; also, one-third of all fire stations, half of all police stations, and two-thirds of all hospitals.

Certain disasters stem from many small problems conspiring to cause one very large problem. For want of a nail, the war was lost; for fifteen independently insignificant errors, the jetliner was lost. Subduction-zone earthquakes operate on the opposite principle: one enormous problem causes many other enormous problems. The shaking from the Cascadia quake will set off landslides throughout the region—up to thirty thousand of them in Seattle alone, the city’s emergency-management office estimates. It will also induce a process called liquefaction, whereby seemingly solid ground starts behaving like a liquid, to the detriment of anything on top of it. Fifteen per cent of Seattle is built on liquefiable land, including seventeen day-care centers and the homes of some thirty-four thousand five hundred people. So is Oregon’s critical energy-infrastructure hub, a six-mile stretch of Portland through which flows ninety per cent of the state’s liquid fuel and which houses everything from electrical substations to natural-gas terminals. Together, the sloshing, sliding, and shaking will trigger fires, flooding, pipe failures, dam breaches, and hazardous-material spills. Any one of these second-order disasters could swamp the original earthquake in terms of cost, damage, or casualties—and one of them definitely will. Four to six minutes after the dogs start barking, the shaking will subside. For another few minutes, the region, upended, will continue to fall apart on its own. Then the wave will arrive, and the real destruction will begin.

Among natural disasters, tsunamis may be the closest to being completely unsurvivable. The only likely way to outlive one is not to be there when it happens: to steer clear of the vulnerable area in the first place, or get yourself to high ground as fast as possible. For the seventy-one thousand people who live in Cascadia’s inundation zone, that will mean evacuating in the narrow window after one disaster ends and before another begins. They will be notified to do so only by the earthquake itself—“a vibrate-alert system,” Kevin Cupples, the city planner for the town of Seaside, Oregon, jokes—and they are urged to leave on foot, since the earthquake will render roads impassable. Depending on location, they will have between ten and thirty minutes to get out. That time line does not allow for finding a flashlight, tending to an earthquake injury, hesitating amid the ruins of a home, searching for loved ones, or being a Good Samaritan. “When that tsunami is coming, you run,” Jay Wilson, the chair of the Oregon Seismic Safety Policy Advisory Commission (OSSPAC), says. “You protect yourself, you don’t turn around, you don’t go back to save anybody. You run for your life.”

The time to save people from a tsunami is before it happens, but the region has not yet taken serious steps toward doing so. Hotels and businesses are not required to post evacuation routes or to provide employees with evacuation training. In Oregon, it has been illegal since 1995 to build hospitals, schools, firehouses, and police stations in the inundation zone, but those which are already in it can stay, and any other new construction is permissible: energy facilities, hotels, retirement homes. In those cases, builders are required only to consult with DOGAMI about evacuation plans. “So you come in and sit down,” Ian Madin says. “And I say, ‘That’s a stupid idea.’ And you say, ‘Thanks. Now we’ve consulted.’ ”

These lax safety policies guarantee that many people inside the inundation zone will not get out. Twenty-two per cent of Oregon’s coastal population is sixty-five or older. Twenty-nine per cent of the state’s population is disabled, and that figure rises in many coastal counties. “We can’t save them,” Kevin Cupples says. “I’m not going to sugarcoat it and say, ‘Oh, yeah, we’ll go around and check on the elderly.’ No. We won’t.” Nor will anyone save the tourists. Washington State Park properties within the inundation zone see an average of seventeen thousand and twenty-nine guests a day. Madin estimates that up to a hundred and fifty thousand people visit Oregon’s beaches on summer weekends. “Most of them won’t have a clue as to how to evacuate,” he says. “And the beaches are the hardest place to evacuate from.” Those who cannot get out of the inundation zone under their own power will quickly be overtaken by a greater one. A grown man is knocked over by ankle-deep water moving at 6.7 miles an hour. The tsunami will be moving more than twice that fast when it arrives. Its height will vary with the contours of the coast, from twenty feet to more than a hundred feet. It will not look like a Hokusai-style wave, rising up from the surface of the sea and breaking from above. It will look like the whole ocean, elevated, overtaking land. Nor will it be made only of water—not once it reaches the shore. It will be a five-story deluge of pickup trucks and doorframes and cinder blocks and fishing boats and utility poles and everything else that once constituted the coastal towns of the Pacific Northwest.

To see the full scale of the devastation when that tsunami recedes, you would need to be in the international space station. The inundation zone will be scoured of structures from California to Canada. The earthquake will have wrought its worst havoc west of the Cascades but caused damage as far away as Sacramento, California— as distant from the worst-hit areas as Fort Wayne, Indiana, is from New York. FEMA expects to coördinate search-and-rescue operations across a hundred thousand square miles and in the waters off four hundred and fifty-three miles of coastline. As for casualties: the figures I cited earlier—twenty-seven thousand injured, almost thirteen thousand dead—are based on the agency’s official planning scenario, which has the earthquake striking at 9:41 A.M. on February 6th. If, instead, it strikes in the summer, when the beaches are full, those numbers could be off by a horrifying margin.

Wineglasses, antique vases, Humpty Dumpty, hip bones, hearts: what breaks quickly generally mends slowly, if at all. OSSPAC estimates that in the I-5 corridor it will take between one and three months after the earthquake to restore electricity, a month to a year to restore drinking water and sewer service, six months to a year to restore major highways, and eighteen months to restore health-care facilities. On the coast, those numbers go up. Whoever chooses or has no choice but to stay there will spend three to six months without electricity, one to three years without drinking water and sewage systems, and three or more years without hospitals. Those estimates do not apply to the tsunami-inundation zone, which will remain all but uninhabitable for years.

How much all this will cost is anyone’s guess; FEMA puts every number on its relief-and-recovery plan except a price. But whatever the ultimate figure—and even though U.S. taxpayers will cover seventy-five to a hundred per cent of the damage, as happens in declared disasters—the economy of the Pacific Northwest will collapse. Crippled by a lack of basic services, businesses will fail or move away. Many residents will flee as well. OSSPAC predicts a mass-displacement event and a long-term population downturn. Chris Goldfinger didn’t want to be there when it happened. But, by many metrics, it will be as bad or worse to be there afterward.

On the face of it, earthquakes seem to present us with problems of space: the way we live along fault lines, in brick buildings, in homes made valuable by their proximity to the sea. But, covertly, they also present us with problems of time. The earth is 4.5 billion years old, but we are a young species, relatively speaking, with an average individual allotment of three score years and ten. The brevity of our lives breeds a kind of temporal parochialism—an ignorance of or an indifference to those planetary gears which turn more slowly than our own.

This problem is bidirectional. The Cascadia subduction zone remained hidden from us for so long because we could not see deep enough into the past. It poses a danger to us today because we have not thought deeply enough about the future. That is no longer a problem of information; we now understand very well what the Cascadia fault line will someday do. Nor is it a problem of imagination. If you are so inclined, you can watch an earthquake destroy much of the West Coast this summer in Brad Peyton’s “San Andreas,” while, in neighboring theatres, the world threatens to succumb to Armageddon by other means: viruses, robots, resource scarcity, zombies, aliens, plague. As those movies attest, we excel at imagining future scenarios, including awful ones. But such apocalyptic visions are a form of escapism, not a moral summons, and still less a plan of action. Where we stumble is in conjuring up grim futures in a way that helps to avert them. That problem is not specific to earthquakes, of course. The Cascadia situation, a calamity in its own right, is also a parable for this age of ecological reckoning, and the questions it raises are ones that we all now face. How should a society respond to a looming crisis of uncertain timing but of catastrophic proportions? How can it begin to right itself when its entire infrastructure and culture developed in a way that leaves it profoundly vulnerable to natural disaster?

The last person I met with in the Pacific Northwest was Doug Dougherty, the superintendent of schools for Seaside, which lies almost entirely within the tsunami-inundation zone. Of the four schools that Dougherty oversees, with a total student population of sixteen hundred, one is relatively safe. The others sit five to fifteen feet above sea level. When the tsunami comes, they will be as much as forty-five feet below it.

In 2009, Dougherty told me, he found some land for sale outside the inundation zone, and proposed building a new K-12 campus there. Four years later, to foot the hundred-and-twenty-eight-million-dollar bill, the district put up a bond measure. The tax increase for residents amounted to two dollars and sixteen cents per thousand dollars of property value. The measure failed by sixty-two per cent. Dougherty tried seeking help from Oregon’s congressional delegation but came up empty. The state makes money available for seismic upgrades, but buildings within the inundation zone cannot apply. At present, all Dougherty can do is make sure that his students know how to evacuate.

Some of them, however, will not be able to do so. At an elementary school in the community of Gearhart, the children will be trapped. “They can’t make it out from that school,” Dougherty said. “They have no place to go.” On one side lies the ocean; on the other, a wide, roadless bog. When the tsunami comes, the only place to go in Gearhart is a small ridge just behind the school. At its tallest, it is forty-five feet high—lower than the expected wave in a full-margin earthquake. For now, the route to the ridge is marked by signs that say “Temporary Tsunami Assembly Area.” I asked Dougherty about the state’s long-range plan. “There is no long- range plan,” he said.

Dougherty’s office is deep inside the inundation zone, a few blocks from the beach. All day long, just out of sight, the ocean rises up and collapses, spilling foamy overlapping ovals onto the shore. Eighty miles farther out, ten thousand feet below the surface of the sea, the hand of a geological clock is somewhere in its slow sweep. All across the region, seismologists are looking at their watches, wondering how long we have, and what we will do, before geological time catches up to our own. ♦

*An earlier version of this article misstated the location of the area of impact.

 Kathryn Schulz joined The New Yorker as a staff writer in 2015. In 2016, she won the Pulitzer Prize for Feature Writing and a National Magazine Award for “The Really Big One,” her story on the seismic risk in the Pacific Northwest. She is the author of “Being Wrong: Adventures in the Margin of Error.”

Trail bridge over Seymour River delayed due to costs

Brent Richter / North Shore News

October 10, 2017 03:53 PM

An artist’s rendering depicts how a rigid suspension bridge over the Seymour River will look once completed. image supplied, Metro Vancouver

It was a bridge too far (over budget.)

Metro Vancouver has delayed construction of a replacement for the Twin Bridges over the Seymour River after bids on the project came in at double the costs Metro was willing to pay. related

 Seymour River rescue enters second year  Metro Vancouver to replace Twin Bridge by end of year  Blasting proposed for Seymour rock slide  Seymour rock slide creates new lake

Metro has been planning to build a new rigid suspension bridge dubbed Fisherman’s Trail Bridge since the Twin Bridges was washed out following the 2014 rock slide that blocked off the Seymour. The regional authority put out a request for proposals in August, and was hoping to complete construction on the new span this year, but none of the engineering firms that responded to the RFP were close to the budget Metro had in mind, said Mike Mayers, superintendent of environmental management. “We made the decision that it was outside of our budget and we collapsed the tender process for the construction for the summer,” he said. “Metro Vancouver recognizes that it’s an important connection and we were as disappointed, I think, as the users that it came in at that price. But we need to be frugal and we don’t want to overspend.”

This summer was a busy time for engineering firms with several bridge projects around B.C. in the works, Mayers said, which may have pushed up the market price.

“It’s so busy out there and there is a lack of ... skilled crews that the prices have gone way up for projects that would have, last year, gone for half the price,” he said, noting other municipal governments have also been “collapsing” bids on projects that came in too high.

Mayers said they will likely make a few modifications to the Fisherman’s Trail Bridge design and repackage the tender with a replacement for a vehicle bridge at the top of Riverside Drive. That RFP will likely be issued this winter, which is normally the off-season for building firms, with construction, ideally, starting in the spring.

“We’re hoping that going out (to tender) at that time of year, we’ll be first in the queue,” Mayers said.

Metro had initially estimated it would cost $2.3 million to design and replace both bridges, as well as re- establishing all the trail connections lost to flooding in 2014.

The bridge will be 2.5 metres wide with railings high enough to safely accommodate cyclists and equestrians.

TransLink announces new street and sidewalk funding in North Vancouver

Brent Richter / North Shore News

October 15, 2017 08:56 AM

From left: North Vancouver MLA Bowinn Ma, City of North Vancouver Mayor Darrell Mussatto, TransLink CEO Kevin Desmond and District of North Vancouver Mayor Richard Walton enjoy a walk on the Green Necklace. photo Mike Wakefield, North Shore News

These streets were made for walkin’ (and cyclin’ and maybe roller-bladin’ and skateboardin’ too).

Dignitaries from the district and city of North Vancouver, TransLink, and the province gathered outside Queen Mary Elementary on Friday to mark $23 million in new funding from TransLink for 51 projects around the Lower Mainland aimed at making it easier for folks to get around under their own steam.

They chose the “nearly complete” Green Necklace linking West Keith Road to Bewicke Avenue as the backdrop for the announcement as TransLink put up $660,900 for the project.

Other city amenities on the list: $262,270 for the Green Necklace between Lonsdale Avenue and Jones Avenue, $35,000 for a new traffic signal at St. Andrews Avenue and Third Street, and $16,000 for separated bike lanes on Chesterfield Avenue. The District of North Vancouver is on the receiving end of $120,000 for a sidewalk and pedestrian crossing on Mountain Highway. West Vancouver received $69,000 for Spirit Trail construction through Ambleside and Dundarave, sidewalks on Inglewood Avenue, and improvements and new lighting along the Capilano Pacific Trail west of Sixth Street.

In 2017, TransLink put up $41.8 million for the operation, maintenance and rehabilitation on more than 2,300 lane kilometres of road in Metro Vancouver.

The projects are all part of the TransLink Mayors’ Council 10-year vision. Another $130 million in spending on the non-transit portion of the plan is expected over the next two years. CRIER COMMENT: True blue

North Shore News

July 5, 2017 10:16 AM

photo Mike Wakefield Kudos to a small and spirted team of volunteers who banded together to save a blue cabin. As new development on the Dollarton waterfront takes shape, the area’s storied squatter history recedes into distant memory. The blue cabin is a colourful, last remaining vestige from when Dollarton was a haven for artists and hippies who lived in shacks that lined Burrard Inlet’s banks. At 80 years old, the cabin is clearly frail but still alive with memories. It was the beloved home of writer Al Neil and his partner and fellow artist Carole Itter for decades. Furnished with an upright piano for Neil, a freestyle jazz musician, the couple led a creative life off-the-grid. But they were forced to leave, the cabin uprooted from the banks of Burrard Inlet near Cates Park, to make way for a new condo development on the old McKenzie Barge site. Since then the diminutive blue cabin with distinctive red shutters has languished in storage at a chemical plant in the Maplewood industrial area. But now, thanks to a dedicated volunteer group of artists and historians who secured an estimated $350,000 worth of funding and in-kind expertise, the cabin is headed for greener pastures. Literally. If you head down to Maplewood Farm this summer, besides seeing some adorable animals, you can watch an important piece of Deep Cove history be restored in plain sight. A Mayne Island couple will inhabit the cherished cabin during the day, working together to tackle extensive interior and exterior repairs. Next summer the spruced-up shack will be set afloat and serve as a unique artists’ residence for its next life. We’re happy that those who feel connected to Dollarton’s rich artistic and counterculture history will have a place to reflect on simpler times. With changing realities and new development afoot in North Van, if needed, we hope residents will step up to the plate to help preserve a piece of our history. See Also:

http://nsnews.com/community/deep-cove-crier/crier-comment-true-blue-1.20925662 http://www.nsnews.com/news/blue-cabin-restoration-a-window-to-past-1.23025478 http://www.nsnews.com/community/deep-cove-crier/mayor-s-message-blue-squatters-cabin-in-greener-pasture-1.20925648 EDITORIAL: Undeclared

North Shore News

October 11, 2017 07:30 AM

A view of West Vancouver. An analysis of recent census data shows that the municipality has one of the highest rates of low-income households in Metro Vancouver. file photo Cindy Goodman, North Shore News

It’s not polite, we were told growing up, to discuss two things: religion and money. The religion part we can let slide but it seems our reticence to discuss wealth is biting us in the behind.

An analysis of the latest census data shows West Vancouver, where you can’t cross the street without nearly being hit by a Lamborghini, has one of the highest rates of low-income households in Metro Vancouver. related

 1 in 5 West Vancouver households 'low income'

Of course pensioners could be included in that, but they don’t account for the overall percentage of low-income households indicated by Revenue Canada. The statistics show a higher percentage of low incomes among working age people than among retirees.

Richmond shows similar low-income statistics that belie what we can see with our own eyes. This is more evidence foreign income is driving our housing market (and likely the Lamborghini, too).

For generations, Canada’s tax system has been focused on income rather than wealth. This is extremely convenient for those who have declared little of the former but have much of the latter.

Meanwhile, we’re constantly told the cupboard is bare when it comes to building affordable housing, improving our health-care system and repairing the holes in our social safety net.

There is an innovative proposal coming from the academics who have been studying this decoupling of the housing market from local incomes: increase the taxes on multimillion-dollar properties but allow residents to deduct the amount they’ve paid in income taxes.

That way no one can selectively “opt out” of paying for the services they consume, while raking in millions elsewhere.

Vancouver’s middle-aged exodus raises concerns about city’s economic future

Barry Burko and Karen McKibbin sold their Whistler, B.C., home and bought an RV park in the north Okanagan.

Llisa Bastard Photography

Kerry Gold Special to The Globe and Mail 2 days ago October 13, 2017

Lower Mainland residents in their peak earning years are deciding to pack it up instead.

Barry Burko and Karen McKibbin, both in their mid 50s, sold off their Whistler home a year ago, after that market saw major price hikes. They had already sold their property management business, and then they sold the house for a price that enabled them to completely cash out.

They bought an RV trailer and travelled in Mexico for six months, until they got bored. Ms. McKibbin, a real estate enthusiast, did some research and discovered that RV parks are a good investment. Over the phone from Mexico, site unseen, they purchased an RV park in the north Okanagan and moved there. They are now living in a 400 sq. ft. trailer.

"The financial adviser said, 'you could retire, and you'll end up with no inheritance for the kids, but you could survive,'" Ms. McKibbin says. "We don't have an RRSP. Our RRSP was our house. We made money on real estate and our business, and that's our comfort level."

The RV park idea made sense because it gave them autonomy as well as land.

"We were buying land, which was very comforting to us," Mr. Burko says. "The worst case scenario was if it doesn't make money, we have a place to live and we can get jobs in the winter." As it turned out, the RV park was a moneymaker, drawing upon a large base of return customers, as well as a boost from new marketing. In three months, they earned enough net income that they won't have to get winter jobs. They are building a cabin on their 11-acre property to live in during the summer, and plan on hiring more staff. The couple will live at the campground this winter then purchase a house for the off-season, possibly in Revelstoke. They could also travel in the winter months.

"It turns out campgrounds run about 12 per cent return in three months on your investment, so if you annualize that, it's a hell of a return," Mr. Burko says.

The couple sees other people in their age group also giving up the Lower Mainland in search of more space, and less work.

"This is our retirement plan, that's what this is," Ms. McKibbin says. "We're not working full time. There are a lot of different ways this could have played out."

While a lot of fuss has been made about millennials leaving the Lower Mainland, the bigger exodus may be the group that is either nearing middle age or well into it. Generation Xers, or people from 35 to 55, could start bailing at a rate that could turn into a crisis, says Chris Fair, president of Resonance Consultancy, a research and branding firm. Mr. Fair, who also has an office in New York, commissioned Insights West to do a survey. The result was the Future of B.C. Housing report, and he was startled by the response that people with lots of working years ahead of them were planning to leave. Of people between 35 and 55 in Greater Vancouver, 47 per cent agreed that they would be selling their home for a cheaper market in the next five years. For those people, the need for affordable housing and more space was the draw. Kelowna and Victoria are top alternatives.

Through home ownership they've earned enough wealth to go somewhere with greater affordability, where they can own land and bigger homes. They can retire or semi-retire at a young age, or trade their career for part-time jobs, but they can do so because their equity goes further in a less expensive community.

"For all the talk about young people leaving Vancouver, the people with the highest propensity to leave Greater Vancouver is the Gen X homeowner," says Mr. Fair, who presented his data findings earlier this year.

"This is a real crisis for the city. It's not young people or boomers leaving, but it's the management class of the city leaving, people who are in their peak earning years, mid-career. If they leave, what does that do to the economy of Vancouver, and the prosperity of a company trying to find senior level talent?"

Mr. Fair's own company has seen glimpses of a trend. One of his senior employees, in his late 30s, sold his house to relocate to Victoria. His business partner sold her home in North Vancouver to relocate to Brooklyn.

"This is our small company of 20 people, and these are the changes and pressures we are feeling. I can't imagine the challenges other [bigger] companies are facing in recruiting and keeping talent, which is key to growth in the long term.

"We don't have a problem attracting talent from different parts of the world. It's easy to get them under 30 but hard to keep them."

Andy Yan, adjunct professor in urban studies at Simon Fraser University, says the issue isn't whether people are coming to Vancouver, but whether they will want to stay. He analyzed census data from 2006 to 2016 and found a 13 per cent drop in 40 to 44 year olds in Vancouver. When he broadened his analysis to 35 to 44 year olds, he found a total 9-per-cent drop in the city proper. "We talk about the missing middle in housing, but we're actually missing the middle-aged demographic, particularly in the city of Vancouver," Mr. Yan says. "We're not losing the young millennials, but we are losing those who are their mentors and supervisors. The question is, how do you build and nurture an innovation economy if you don't have that demographic?"

He attributes part of the decline to high rents and home prices, low paying or precarious employment, and housing that is unfriendly to families.

"The city of Vancouver is in danger of becoming a place where some reach a certain age and age out – a kind of Pleasure Island in the Pinocchio story," he says.

Michael Heeney, the new president and chief executive officer of Surrey City Development Corp., agrees that high-paying jobs are often missing from the conversation. When he was a principal at Bing Thom Architects, he did a study that found that Vancouver had an average of only 60 employees per head office. Companies here have a tough time growing, compared with cities such as Toronto and Seattle. He saw that play out at Bing Thom Architects, where he worked for 28 years. People who invested 15 years with the firm would move on when they reached a phase in life where housing a family became a priority.

"That's when they decide to have families, in their late 30s, early 40s. All of a sudden they have kids and housing becomes much more important to them. That's where we run into trouble. And they are incredibly valuable to a company. They know how to do their job. That's how a business makes money, off the backs of people they've invested 15 years in training.

"Our problem with affordability is not just the cost of housing, but really low incomes. If we could have big offices with larger upper level employees with higher salaries that would help grow our incomes, and that in a way will make our housing more affordable," Mr. Heeney says.

Mr. Fair believes that the combination of low paying jobs and high priced housing has put Vancouver at a unique disadvantage compared to other cities.

"I think it is difficult to grow in Vancouver. We have an income and economic development problem - jobs don't pay as much in Vancouver, and the spread and the gap between a person with a degree is less than in 10 other Canadian cities. And we have the highest housing costs. That's not sustainable.

"The ship may have sailed for Gen-X in the next five years. There's not much we can do," Mr. Fair says. "But millennials will get married and have kids, and face the same situation, and it will be likely to be even worse. And will they leave earlier? Or just never buy a home in Vancouver and have to leave altogether?"

As for Ms. McKibbin and Mr. Burko, they say they're pleased with early semi-retirement. And they think they're paving the way for people in their demographic to cash out and follow.

"Talk about affordability," Ms. McKibbin says. "A lot of people are coming out and living in RV parks, and people are selling sites [to them], rather than just renting them out as a campsite. I think this will be another market."

EDITORIAL: We want information!

http://www.nsnews.com/opinion/editorial/editorial-we-want-information-1.22915601

North Shore News

September 21, 2017 04:05 PM

The B.C. legislature. file photo North Shore News

Thousands of miles from a U.S. voting booth, a Russian company with a history of pushing propaganda sought to sway the U.S. presidential election through social media. That is a threat to democracy. Amid the chaos of Venezuela, the constitution is set to be rewritten following a questionable referendum. That, of course, is a threat to democracy.

But closer to home, British Columbia faces a different democratic threat: sloth.

By law, B.C.’s government must respond to freedom of information requests within 30 days. But approximately 20 per cent of the time, our previous Liberal government broke that law, according to a recent report from B.C.’s privacy commissioner.

By 2016 our government appeared to be overrun by sedated banana slugs, as the response time for overdue requests leaped from 47 to 62 days. However, the most dazzling displays of sluggishness were reserved for journalists, who faced the longest lag time.

While not precisely a slow coup, the trend is nonetheless troubling. If the government controls when information is released, they can control how it will be perceived, discussed, and used.

Freedom of information requests must be honoured. And not just because we need to know how much lead is in our drinking water. And not just because, as a CBC freedom of information request recently revealed, our previous Liberal government asked oil and gas companies to refine the language of recommendations related to climate change.

No, the most basic reason these requests must be honoured is because the information belongs to us.

Our government should hold information like they hold power: fleetingly.

West Vancouver bans aggressive dog Pleading owners owe $2K

Jane Seyd / North Shore News

October 5, 2017 03:39 PM

A dog sign at Ambleside Park in West Vancouver. District council voted Monday to uphold a decision to revoke a dog's licence, citing multiple infractions. file photo Kevin Hill, North Shore News

A 10-year-old German shepherd named Jemma has been banished from West Vancouver.

Council voted Monday to uphold a decision to revoke the dog’s licence, despite a tearful last-ditch plea from Jemma’s owner.

Kimmia Abdollahi told council her family would like the old dog’s last days to be spent with her family.

But most council members said Jemma’s history of aggression and the owners’ refusal to follow the rules have made the dog unwelcome in the community.

Dog licences for dogs deemed aggressive can be revoked by the municipality after five tickets for not complying with bylaw regulations.

Those include keeping the dog in a secure enclosure on the owners’ property, and making sure the dog is muzzled and under control on a leash when out in public.

“It’s tough for us,” said Coun. Nora Gambioli, pointing to the lengthy report on aggressive incidents involving Jemma reported by the public.

The vote means Jemma’s owners now have to either give her up or put her down.

A vote to take away a dog licence hasn’t happened before in West Vancouver, said Jeff McDonald, spokesman for the municipality. Most often owners comply with bylaw requirements, he said.

McDonald said it’s possible Jemma could go to another owner in West Vancouver, but they would have to reapply for a licence, when Jemma’s history would also be reviewed.

Jemma’s crimes and misdemeanours were detailed Monday in a report from bylaw manager Sarah Almas.

Starting in 2014, incidents included Jemma attacking smaller dogs in two separate incidents while she was being walked, as well as running loose in the neighbourhood of Wildwood Lane, and snapping at mail carriers and contractors.

One mail carrier’s complaint described Jemma taking several bites out of a bag of mail before being called back to the owners’ home.

Another resident reported being almost run at by Jemma in the lane, adding he has seen the dog running at large on multiple occasions.

Bylaw staff issued several tickets to the owners for failing to build an enclosure. Once the enclosure was built, bylaw officers said the dog did not appear to be kept in it as required. Further incidents pointed to Jemma not being properly under control when off the property, the report said.

Almas noted $2,500 in fines handed out to the owners haven’t been paid.

In her plea to council, Abdollahi took issue with some statements in the report, adding, “Dogs barking at strangers and some dogs not getting along is not abnormal behaviour.”

Coun. Bill Soprovich was alone in his willingness to give Jemma another chance.

“When I was seven years old a German shepherd bit into my calf,” he said, noting he pleaded with his family not to ask for the dog to be destroyed. “A year later I was walking that dog in the neighbourhood,” he said.

Soprovich said he was hopeful someone would step forward to adopt the dog.

Soprovich was the sole vote against upholding the decision to revoke Jemma’s dog licence.

McDonald said there’s a misconception that dog bylaws are about controlling dogs’ behaviour. “It’s really about controlling human behaviour,” he said. “It’s about allowing all dogs to peacefully exist in the community.”

EDITORIAL: Without a home

North Shore News

September 28, 2017 07:00 PM

An outreach worker assists an individual sleeping outside on West Second Street in North Vancouver last year. file photo Mike Wakefield, North Shore News

A new report confirms what anyone working on the front lines of homelessness could tell you: The number of people living on the streets, or at risk of imminent homelessness on the North Shore, is far worse than we thought.

Upwards of 736 people accessed services on the North Shore that are reserved for the homeless, according to a report by the North Shore Homelessness Task Force. This year’s Metro Vancouver homeless count surveyed just 100 people without proper shelter.

The hope of agency workers who contributed to the report is that it will shock senior levels of government into action.

The province and the feds are beginning to put up money for social housing again after shirking the responsibility for years. Municipalities have precious little cash to put up for social housing but they do have some pockets of land.

The District of North Vancouver is mulling a proposal that would see affordable units being built on the site of the former Delbrook rec centre. West Vancouver has plans in the works for the former Vancouver Coastal Health building on 22nd Street.

But we can already foresee what the discourse will look like when these proposals come to council chamber. Much of the discussion around these projects will focus on the extent to which the neighbours, who are all quite comfortably housed, like it.

We’ve listened to endless hours of our councils ruminating about affordable housing. These are opportunities for them to stop talking and start taking action.

When these projects come forward, we’ll be watching very closely to see if our elected officials are willing to comfort the afflicted, even if it means afflicting the comfortable.